Did you know that dry ice isn’t actually ice? In fact, this product is solid carbon dioxide, kept at a temperature of -79 degrees Celsius. Dry ice is a product that many people don’t know much about at all, let alone what it is used for, or why some invest in dry ice machines. Many people use dry ice or products that relate to dry ice in one way or another without knowing exactly what it is. In fact, dry ice is a bit more complicated than it may seem, both to use and to maintain. Due to the fact that it’s -79 degrees Celsius, for example, dry ice sublimates if it isn’t well-insulated and stored properly. This sublimation can occur at a rate of 2% to 10% per day. Below, we’re going to look into some of the main usages of dry ice — which can further reveal what people should really know about dry ice.
1. Preserving Food
Food can become contaminated for a variety of different reason. All foods gradually degrade over time, and some can be more difficult to maintain than others. Overall, there are three primary types of hazards or contaminants that can cause food to become unsafe. These reasons are defined as biological, chemical, and physical. While the biological category covers microorganisms, the chemical category includes cleaning solvents and pest control, while the physical category refers to hair, dirt, or other matter. The CDC estimates that, due to contaminants like these, one in six Americans becomes sick each year. Fortunately, the food we eat can be preserved further thanks to dry ice. Dry ice can reduce the temperature surrounding fresh meats as they are processed. Fresh fruits are also often preserved through dry ice, though they must be kept in protective bags during the process. Of course, we wouldn’t be able to preserve fish without dry ice — and as fish is extremely vulnerable to contamination or degradation, this product perhaps benefits the most from the usage of dry ice. Those that need to preserve a large amount of food with dry ice may invest in dry ice machines —
2. Cleaning
Dry ice is in itself a great cleaning product, under the right circumstances — which is why some incest in dry ice machines and dry ice cleaning services. As previously mentioned, dry ice is actually the solid form of carbon dioxide. It can be directed, in a steady stream, upon an object — creating a form of cleaning that is sometimes referred to as dry ice pressure washing. The process of dry ice cleaning is usually accomplished through the use of dry ice machines, which in effect mimic the process of sanding, but through dry ice usage. One of the advantages of using dry ice is that it doesn’t negatively affect the environment as other products may. Dry ice machines do not contribute further greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, and dry ice does not leave behind secondary waste. This can make dry ice perfect for commercial cleaning, wherein products must be used on a larger scale.
3. Pest Control
As much as dry ice can be used to prevent pesticides from contaminating food, it can also be used as form of pesticide itself. As previously mentioned, dry ice does not have the same negative effects on the environment as typical pesticide products. However, it can easily kill moths as well as their eggs and larvae through fumigation. For that matter, mosquitoes are actually attracted to dry ice — if placed in the right location, it can draw them away from placed in which humans are gathering.
Dry ice is a naturally-occurring product — but it serves many purposes. If utilized properly, it can be a wonderful cleaning product, a preservative, or a manner through which pests are controlled. Never mind the fact that it can also help freeze away warts and even remove car dents! Like many products, dry ice isn’t easy to maintain; but it pays off the in the long term.