Because of the non-reactive properties of inert gases they are often useful to prevent undesirable chemical reactions from taking place. For example molecular nitrogen, a molecular inert gas, is often used in food packaging to ensure that food does not spoil in transit since no bacteria or fungi can flourish without the reactive gases oxygen or carbon dioxide, which the molecular nitrogen displaces. Most importantly since molecular nitrogen is inert it will not cause any reactions to take place in the food, possibly changing the intrinsic taste or smell, nor will it cause any chemical reactions in the human body.
Thus the inert gas is used as a passive preservative, preventing biological decay, while being undetectable to the consumer since taste and olfactory senses require a chemical reaction to take place in order to send a signal to the brain.
Some Nitrogen Applications
Nitrogen gas has a variety of applications, including serving as an inert replacement for air where oxidation is undesirable;
As a modified atmosphere, pure or mixed with carbon dioxide, to preserve the freshness of packaged or bulk foods (by delaying rancidity and other forms of oxidation damage)
In ordinary incandescent light bulbs as an inexpensive alternative to argon.
The production of electronic parts such as transistors, diodes, and integrated circuits
Dried and pressurized, as a dielectric gas for high-voltage equipment
The manufacturing of stainless steel
Used in military aircraft fuel systems to reduce fire hazard
On top of liquid explosives as a safety measure
Filling automotive and aircraft tires due to its inertness and lack of moisture or oxidation qualities, as opposed to air.
Growing in popularity for consumer vehicles due to ability to enhance fuel efficiency, increase tire longevity, and provide more safety and stability. This has not yet been independently verified in the case of consumer vehicles which don’t have such high loads on their tires.The difference in N2 content between air and pure N2 is 20%
Used as a propellant for draught wine, and as an alternative to or together with carbon dioxide for other beverages.
Nitrogen is commonly used during sample preparation procedures for chemical analysis. To be specific, it is used to concentrate and reduce the volume of liquid samples. Directing a pressurized stream of nitrogen gas perpendicular to the surface of the liquid allows the solvent to evaporate while leaving the solute(s) and non-evaporated solvent behind.
Nitrogen tanks are also replacing carbon dioxide as the main power source for paintball guns. The downside is that nitrogen must be kept at higher pressure than CO2, making N2 tanks heavier and more expensive.
Nitrogenated beer
A further example of its versatility is its use as a preferred alternative to carbon dioxide to pressurize kegs of some beers, in particular, stouts and British ales, due to the smaller bubbles it produces, which make the dispensed beer smoother and headier.
As measurement and monitoring is important for most of the applications mentioned above our consumption transmitters can be used for on-line monitoring and control.
