How to effectively store dry ice?

Dry ice (solid CO2) manufacturing process

As mentioned in the introduction, dry ice is the solid form of CO2, or carbon dioxide. Its temperature hovers around -80°C (-79.5°C).

How is it made?

To cut a long story short: after compressing CO2 gas, it transforms into liquid. This liquid is then introduced into a machine calleda pelletizer. Approximately 50% of this liquid CO2 reverts to CO2 gas, and the remaining 50% transforms into "dry ice snow".

Using a hydraulic ram and appropriate dies, this snow is then pushed and compacted to produce different dry ice formats:dry ice pellets:

• pellets 1 to 3,5 mm, resembling mini-cylinders. This format is commonly used in dry ice blasting technology, also referred to by some as dry ice cleaning.
• sticks: approximately 16 mm on average. The dry ice then resembles "lipstick tubes." Its applications are diverse:
  food transport and sample preservation, special effects, smoking cocktails, pest control...
• slabs: of various sizes (20 x 20 x 2,5 cm, 15 x 20 x 3,0 cm, etc.). This format is generally used for food preservation
• blocks: (25 x 25 x 25 cm). Used similarly to slabs.

So you've understood that for transporting dry ice, not bottles, but rather containers or suitable containers: insulated et non-hermetic, because as we've said, you can't permanently stop dry ice sublimation.But where can you find suitable containers? compacted

Le pelletizer into dry ice using a hydraulic ram. la dry ice The dry ice format depends on the die used at the exit: [[NUM]] mm, [[NUM]] mm, etc.

Dry ice containers starting from [[PRICE]] each (Tip #1)

insulated

Anti-static containers suitable for dry ice are:

• polystyrene boxes with a capacity of 5 to 30 kg,
• expanded polypropyleneboxes with a capacity of 50 to 100 kg,
• rotomolded insulated containers 50 to 400 kg

The vast majority of dry ice suppliers are able to provide you with polystyrene containers. The cost of these starts at 8 €/pc. Of course, the more dry ice your polystyrene container can hold, the larger its dimensions and price will be.

On average, in a traditional polystyrene container (holding 5 to 30 kg) with a thickness of 25 to 30 mm, dry ice sublimation is 20% per day, compared to 50 to 70% per day in a simple cooler...

In expanded polypropylene boxes with a capacity of 50 to 100 kg, sublimation averages 8% per day at an ambient temperature of 21°C.

Using a suitable insulated container will optimize dry ice preservation: sublimation drops to 3 to 8% on average per day in a rotomolded container, and could allow you to keep dry ice, in some cases, for more than 7 days.

Of course, the more dry ice loaded, the better its preservation and the longer it lasts: this is the mass effect.

Insulated containers and boxes suitable for dry ice preservation and transport...

Where to buy?

If you're an individual or a professional, you can purchase polystyrene boxes on the website of latelierdupolystryrene.fr

If you're a in industry, you should still ensure that your dry ice blasting machine: dry ice blasting professional, or a maintenance manager, or even a visual effects company, you might find it worthwhile to invest in polystyrene containers on the following website: groupe-sipa.com - Purchase by pallet.

If you wish to invest in expanded polypropylene boxes with a capacity of 100 kg, visit laboiteisotherme.com

If you wish to invest in industrial de 200 to 400 kg, visit containers at olivo-logistics.com .

You'll discover in the rest of this article that advertising and sports results can help you effectively store dry ice. How? Read on...

Tip #2: Sports results to save on dry ice!

With a title like that, your curiosity has been piqued, hasn't it? What's the connection between sports results and and dry ice preservation?
None! Except that in both cases, you can use paper ! The advertisements you receive daily, the newspapers containing sports results are printed on paperthat can be used to protect dry ice! How?

Solid CO2 acts like a magnet for moisture. No wonder, since carbon dioxide is perfectly miscible with water: you need onlyread the labels on carbonated beverages to convince yourself...

To avoid therefore the loss caused by the miscibility of CO2 with water, you minimize contact between dry ice and ambient air by using paper: newspaper, flyers, etc.You can further improve this protection by using cardboard cut to fit the interior dimensions of your container.

However, we advise against this storage technique if you're using dry ice for food or pharmaceutical applications:

- risk ofde phthalate and/or isocyanate transfer contained in certain papers and cardboard onto the ice.

Finally, the ultimate solution for and dry ice optimal preservation is to place a LDPE plastic bag(coming soon to this site) inside your container and put the dry ice inside it.You'll minimize contact between humid ambient air and dry ice.

According to the Health and Environment Network (R.E.S), LDPE plastic causes minimal migration onto the preserved item: it can be suitable for food use.

In the best case, place the dry ice inside an LDPE bag. Otherwise, place newspaper or cardboard on top of the ice, inside your container...

Tip #3: Storage location

Where should you store dry ice? Remember that its temperature is around -80°C. It's difficult to find a freezer capable of such a feat: they exist but are reserved forlaboratories... That said, nothing prevents you from storing it in a cool place and ideally away from moisture.

En winteryou could consider storing it outside. In summer, in such an the coolest location possible.

In any case, remember that you cannot stop dry ice sublimation.

Dry ice must therefore be stored in a cool and VENTILATEDplace to evacuate the carbon dioxide released during sublimation and to avoid any asphyxiation risk.

Always store ice in a dry, ventilated location...

In conclusion:

To to effectively store dry ice, you should always use a suitable ou insulated non-hermetic container, container et polystyrene container, expanded polypropylene container, rotomoldedcontainer...While protecting the ice inside your container using

newspaper cardboard, or anLDPE bag and storing it in a cool, ventilated storage location. But by the way, where can you get this precious material? Discover the answer to this question and many others at the bottom of the page in the "

Learn more:Learn more"