How to store dry ice at what temperature

If a few years ago dry ice was used only by ice cream sellers, chefs, bartenders and event organizers, today the unique properties of the product have found their application at home. If you know how to preserve dry ice, you don’t have to worry about an unexpected loss of power in the refrigerator and ensure the quality of the food prepared for the picnic.

It will also help in creating a special atmosphere at a holiday at home and will provide an unusual serving of champagne or dessert. This component has also found its use in home cosmetology, but before introducing it into all areas of your life and deciding on original experiments, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the physical properties and features of the composition.

Coolant properties

So, dry ice is carbon dioxide in a solid state. Its temperature is -80°C. But in this form, carbon dioxide does not melt like ordinary ice. When interacting with oxygen, it evaporates at a rate of 2.5 - 5 kg per 24 hours, during which a kind of fog (haze) is formed. But there is no smell.

When evaporation occurs in a confined space, carbon dioxide in high concentration absorbs all the oxygen. This leads to difficulty breathing (the person may even lose consciousness). Therefore, dry ice must be stored with all precautions.

Regardless of storage conditions, this substance constantly sublimates (turns into a gaseous state), and after a few days there will be nothing left of it. Therefore, it makes no sense to stock up on it, and you should buy it immediately before use.

Characteristics and features of dry ice that affect the rules for its storage

Dry ice itself is the most common carbon dioxide in a solid state. Once melted, the product bypasses the traditional liquid phase and immediately turns into a gas. This substance combines with air and turns into thick vapor that has no specific odor.

Tip: At home, it is highly not recommended to use large amounts of dry ice at the same time. The release of a significant amount of carbon dioxide in a small space can lead to oxygen deprivation and cause headaches and even fainting.

Despite the fact that dry ice can be stored at home, its evaporation will occur constantly and there is no way to stop it. For this reason, it is recommended to purchase the product immediately before a significant event or prepare it yourself using a very ordinary fire extinguisher.

What is dry ice

Dry ice is carbon dioxide in solid form. The product temperature is about -80 degrees. The substance got its name due to the fact that it does not melt. Dry ice, upon contact with oxygen, takes on a volatile form, bypassing the liquid state.
We can say that dry ice “melts” in air, but there are some differences from ordinary frozen water. Carbon dioxide in its solid state turns into smoke upon contact with oxygen and does not emit any odor.
This nuance is its peculiarity; dry ice in high concentrations can absorb all the oxygen in an unventilated room. If at this moment a person is in the room, he can easily experience oxygen starvation or even lose consciousness.

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How to purchase

You can buy this cooler online, in a chemical store, and sometimes in a supermarket at a very affordable price. Its sales volumes range from 1 to 25 kg, and its shelf life (small quantities in polystyrene packaging) is up to 3 days.

Another type of carbon dioxide is dry snow. It's made of flakes rather than granules, but essentially has the same cooling effect. It is often used in carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, so some homegrown inventors use them for other purposes - to cool drinks in the summer heat.

It is worth noting that careless handling of this chemical can result in serious injury. Exposure to temperatures of -75°C – – 80°C on the skin causes burns and frostbite to tissues.

Safety precautions when storing and using dry ice

It is important not only to know how to store dry ice, but also to familiarize yourself with the rules for its use. Careless handling of the product may result in burns or frostbite:

Wear gloves on your hands.
They must be made of dense material. Thin, rubber gloves will be useless and will not serve as protection.
It is advisable to protect all exposed areas of the body with clothing.
Cover your face with a mask or wear goggles to protect your eyes.
The product should not be placed in an airtight, tightly closed container. The accumulation of carbon dioxide gradually increases the pressure inside the container. This may cause an explosion. Or the person who opens the lid risks injuring their hands and face.
The place where dry ice is stored must be inaccessible to children or animals.
If some dry ice remains unused, it must be disposed of by complete evaporation.

How to ensure the safety of dry ice: requirements and recommendations

Carbon dioxide quickly changes from a solid to a gaseous state. During transportation and storage in isothermal containers, volume loss is about 10% per day. If storage conditions are violated, this figure will be higher. To ensure optimal conditions for product preservation, you should adhere to the following rules:

Selecting a supplier. As you search for products, pay attention to dry ice companies in your area. When transporting over long distances, it is necessary to take into account natural weight losses during daily sublimation. Amarko-Service LLC produces and sells products in Moscow. All residents of Moscow and the Moscow region can use the service and order dry ice. The product is sold retail, small and large wholesale.
Proper preparation for transportation. To transport dry ice, you must use special containers - insulated containers.

Storing Dry Ice: Necessary Precautions

It is advisable to purchase dry ice immediately before using it. If this is inconvenient, taking appropriate safety measures ensures sufficiently long and safe storage of the material. To do this, the following rules must be observed:

Tara. It is strictly forbidden to store dry ice in completely sealed containers - tightly closed jars, metal containers. The process of transition of a substance from solid to gaseous form is inevitable. The temperature of dry ice at which it begins to sublimate is -78.5 ° C. During the sublimation process, carbon dioxide accumulates in the container. Its volume exceeds the volume in the solid state. The result is excess pressure. When the critical limit is reached, the container will explode. There is no point in storing open dry ice in the refrigerator compartment, because... its temperature is much lower than what can be created in it. Dry ice will sublimate.
Choosing a storage location. It is recommended to store dry ice containers in well-ventilated areas. Carbon dioxide tends to accumulate at the bottom, so the room should be high enough. It is desirable that it be non-residential. Carbon dioxide released during the sublimation of dry ice displaces oxygen, causing suffocation in people and animals.
Safety regulations. Dry ice in contact with skin causes thermal burns. It is necessary to work with it wearing protective gloves. It is strictly forbidden to use dry ice in closed, unventilated areas.

Dry Ice Storage Container

Anyone who needs a coolant must take care of the container in which it will be kept. The best option in this case is a container for storing dry ice, which can be purchased online or in a store.

This container is made of metal (stainless steel) or impact-resistant polymer. And its inner part consists of fine-pored foam. This simple design allows you to significantly increase the shelf life of dry ice, even in high ambient temperatures.

When it is impossible to buy such a container, a portable refrigerator is used instead. Or they make a container using a similar principle on their own.

You can store dry ice in containers made from available materials - corrugated cardboard, sheets of polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam. The inside of the cardboard box is finished with one of the types of the selected heat insulator. Such an improvised container is absolutely inexpensive, but does the job well. The main thing is to fit the foam parts very tightly so that their joints are as airtight as possible. If necessary, you can use a sealant.

To store dry ice in a homemade container for a longer period of time, the container is first tightly covered with polystyrene foam, and only then with a lid.

Options for using dry ice at home

This substance can be used to solve various household issues. First, dry ice provides twice the cooling effect of regular ice. Secondly, it completely evaporates during transportation, which greatly simplifies the process of transporting products. And thirdly, its specific white smoke can add a special charm to any celebration.

Use of dry ice for food storage

Having a couple of kilograms of dry ice at home in the summer means you can go on picnics or go on long trips and not worry about how to preserve food. And such a reserve will allow you to survive a power outage without losing provisions. Using carbon dioxide, food can be stored in two ways:

Cool
. To do this, place several blocks of dry ice on the bottom of a food storage container or thermos with two walls, cover it with a thick layer of regular ice and place the food on it. This method keeps the temperature at a suitable temperature for up to five days.
Freeze
. As in the previous version, first lay out dry ice, then regular ice, and then food on top. For a freezing effect, wrap a few dry ice crystals in thin paper and place on top of the food. The paper will slow down evaporation and prolong the freezing effect.

How to store dry ice

In nature, such an extraordinary substance as dry ice does not exist. The product is produced industrially at low temperatures and high pressure in specialized installations. On an industrial scale, finished products are stored in special thermal containers. There are still losses, but they occur more slowly. To preserve dry ice, in each specific case it is necessary to clarify what storage conditions for dry ice can the consumer actually provide?

The dry ice temperature is -78.5°C.

It turns out that this product will be stored for the longest time at temperatures from

-80°C to -90°C. In a warmer environment, dry ice evaporates faster - returning to its original gaseous state. Experts call this process sublimation. It is sublimation that is to blame for the fact that the substance we have manufactured or purchased gradually evaporates from the container.

What is sublimation, and how to deal with it?

Only a professional thermal container for dry ice can reduce the intensity of the sublimation process so much that we can talk about several weeks of storage. And even in such almost ideal conditions, the losses will be noticeable. And this must be taken into account when organizing deliveries. At home, it will not be possible to preserve dry ice for a long time, so purchase the substance as close as possible to the time of its use.

Where and for how long can dry ice be stored on the farm?

The shelf life of dry ice depends entirely on the ambient temperature. Dry ice content results under various conditions:

In a homemade container made of polystyrene foam, depending on the wall thickness and quality of assembly, sublimation losses can be 35% -45% per day.

In an inexpensive factory-made isothermal foam container, the average evaporation of granular carbon dioxide in 24 hours usually does not exceed 3-3.5 kg per day.

A high-quality industrial insulated container will help preserve dry ice longer and in larger volumes - up to 92-97% of the substance per day.

In a special low-temperature refrigerator, capable of providing a temperature range from -80°C to -90°C, storage of dry ice without loss can last indefinitely.

Where is dry ice used in the economy?

A). They cool and freeze products in food factories and restaurants, and due to the large release of cold, rapid freezing occurs in a short period of time, preserving all the vitamins and natural appearance of the products;

b). They fertilize plants in greenhouse agricultural complexes with carbon dioxide, placing solid carbon dioxide in hanging containers;

V). Used in the production of units and equipment during assembly that requires cooling for a tight fit of parts (under the influence of cold, the metal contracts, the part is placed in place, when the temperature normalizes, the metal expands again, and the part fits tightly to the rest of the structure);

G). Freeze biological samples in medical institutions and scientific laboratories;

d). They ensure good weather during mass holiday events by spraying granules from an airplane - what is popularly called “dispersing the clouds”;

e). In show business or when organizing festive events - to create the effect of “heavy” smoke. It is also often used to cool portable ice cream boxes.

Precautionary measures

Do not store it in a regular household refrigerator - the temperature of the freezer is insufficient, it will still evaporate, accumulating in the closed space of the chamber, in addition, the temperature of the ice itself is much lower than what the freezer gives, and this can damage the refrigerator itself.
Remember that a critical volume of gas can accumulate in a sealed container, and this can lead to its breakthrough under pressure. As dry ice evaporates, it expands 800 times in volume.
In small, enclosed spaces without ventilation, large volumes can lead to a concentration of carbon dioxide in the air and poor health.
It is not advisable to take dry ice with your bare hands, you can get a chemical burn, and if you use metal tongs, do not be surprised by the hissing sound that appears when ice comes into contact with metal.
Do not place dry ice on materials or surfaces that could be damaged by sudden temperature differences, such as glass, ceramics, artificial stone, etc.

Where is dry ice used in the economy?

Carbon dioxide in the form of ice is used in many industries, science, medicine, transport, and services:

it effectively cleans various equipment; the process of such cleaning is called cryoblasting and its effect is somewhat similar to sandblasting. It is not carried out in domestic conditions, since it requires special equipment and skills;
they cool and freeze products in food factories and restaurants, and due to the large release of cold, rapid freezing occurs in a short period of time, preserving all the vitamins and natural appearance of the products;
fertilize plants in greenhouse agricultural complexes with carbon dioxide, placing solid carbon dioxide in hanging containers;
used in the production of units and equipment during assembly that requires cooling for a tight fit of parts (under the influence of cold, the metal contracts, the part is placed in place, when the temperature normalizes, the metal expands again, and the part fits tightly to the rest of the structure);
to create a protective environment during welding operations using a certain technology;
freeze biological samples in medical institutions and scientific laboratories;
They ensure good weather during mass holiday events by spraying granules from an airplane - what is popularly called “dispersing the clouds.”

Storage space

Dry ice should be stored in a dark and ventilated area at a low temperature. It is kept on the balcony only in cold weather.

If it is possible to use a barn or attic, you can keep the container with the substance there. Basements are not suitable for this due to high levels of humidity and poor ventilation. Considering that the evaporation of ice occurs all the time, an increased concentration of gas is formed in a small enclosed space, which is harmful to human health.

The question is often asked, can dry ice be stored in the freezer? The fact is that the freezer compartment of a household refrigerator is not designed for such a temperature. In addition, it does not have a ventilation system for the release of carbon dioxide. Therefore, such dry ice storage is not possible.

This substance should also not be kept in a sealed, durable container. If the concentration of carbon dioxide is high, an explosion may occur.

Precautionary measures

Knowing the basic properties of dry ice - flowing from a solid to a gaseous state, its extremely low temperature and other qualities, you need to take some precautions:

Do not store it in a regular household refrigerator - the temperature of the freezer is not sufficient to preserve the substance for a long time, it will still evaporate, accumulating in the closed space of the chamber, in addition, the temperature of the ice itself is much lower than what the freezer gives, and this can damage itself fridge.
Remember that a critical volume of gas can accumulate in a sealed container, and this will lead to its breakthrough under pressure. As dry ice evaporates, it expands 800 times in volume.
In small enclosed spaces without ventilation, large volumes can lead to a concentration of carbon dioxide in the air and poor health of those present with signs of poisoning and suffocation.
You should strictly avoid getting dry ice into your body and keep it away from children and animals.
You should not handle it with bare hands, as you may get a chemical burn. Wear gloves; if you use metal tongs, don't be surprised by the hissing sound that appears when the ice touches the metal.
Do not place ice on materials or surfaces that could be damaged by sudden temperature differences, such as glass, ceramics, artificial stone, etc.

To summarize: if you purchase dry ice at a time for a specific purpose, then do it close to the date when you need it, or rent a container from the seller. If you intend to make regular purchases in sufficient quantities for your business or household, then it makes sense to purchase a special container to contain a volatile product.

Be aware that manufacturers always provide their product with instructions that indicate how to store dry ice and use it safely.

Why is he dangerous?

Dry ice is considered a harmless substance if its concentration is not high and it is used outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. If the room is filled with carbon dioxide, the oxygen content drops and people may first feel dizzy, and then begin to suffocate and lose consciousness from oxygen deprivation.

Can you suffocate from dry ice?

Yes. Never use large quantities of briquettes or dry ice pellets in enclosed spaces (for example, in a sauna). A large volume of carbon dioxide can push air to the ceiling and the room becomes unbreathable.

To prevent oxygen from being displaced from the room, when using dry ice, it is necessary to ventilate the room well and open all windows and doors. It is also undesirable to be near the place where dry ice is used. There is much less air there. And if a person does find himself at the epicenter of the spread, he must be urgently taken outside.

Dry ice: product features

Dry ice has the following characteristics:

Temperature at which the transition to gaseous form begins: -78.5 ° C
Density: 1.1-1.4 g/cm³.

Dry ice is used as a cooling agent in laboratories, the food and pharmaceutical industries, and when transporting perishable food products. Dry ice can be stored for a relatively long time in insulated containers without forced refrigeration.

Products are supplied in various forms:

Blocks. Plates with a volume from 1 kg to 40 kg.
Granules. They have a cylindrical shape.
Fine fraction - Ø 1.7, 2.2 and 3 mm. used for cryoblasting.

Large blocks of dry ice sublimate slowly. For example, it takes about 2-3 hours for a block weighing 1 kg to disappear at room temperature indoors. Fragmentation of the pieces speeds up the evaporation process.