Dry ice is prone to sublimation and evaporates quickly, making it difficult to store, especially when buying small quantities and needing to transport it over long distances. So, where is dry ice bought, where is dry ice sold?
How to make dry ice, how to make dry ice smoke
Prepare ingredients
To make dry ice, make dry ice smoke, or make dry ice at home, you need to prepare the following materials:
- Cloth bag, size depends on the amount of dry ice you want to make
- Fire extinguisher
- Gloves, goggles, mask, shoes, and protective clothing
- Tongs…
Implementation
Below are 8 steps to follow when making dry ice at home.
- Step 1: For safety, the first step in making dry ice at home is to wear all protective equipment.
- Step 2: Take out the cloth bag and place the fire extinguisher nozzle inside the bag.
- Step 3: While spraying the fire extinguisher, you need to hold the mouth of the cloth bag to prevent it from falling off.
- Step 4: At this step, use your hand to remove the safety lock of the fire extinguisher.
- Step 5: Start discharging the fire extinguisher into the cloth bag, and you will see the result: CO2 ice forms in the bag immediately.
- Step 6: As soon as you see the CO2 ice formed, stop discharging the fire extinguisher.
- Step 7: Gently shake the cloth bag to dislodge the dry ice from the fire extinguisher nozzle.
- Step 8: This is the final step in making CO2 ice. Remove the nozzle from the bag and collect the dry ice.
Alternatively, if you don’t have a fire extinguisher, you can replace it with a CO2 gas cylinder and perform the same steps as with the fire extinguisher.
How to store dry ice
Dry ice should be used immediately after purchase. If you want to store it, wrap it tightly in several layers of newspaper and plastic wrap, and store it in a styrofoam box. However, this only slows down the sublimation process, and dry ice will still evaporate depending on the storage time and method.
Note: Because the temperature of dry ice is -78.5°C, storing dry ice in the refrigerator or freezer can damage the cooling system. It is not recommended to store dry ice this way. The best practice is to buy and use it on the same day.
How to use dry ice
How to use dry ice effectively when packaging goods for transportation to prevent spoilage?
When packaging goods for long-distance transport or export, place the dry ice on top. As it evaporates, the cold gas will sink down, protecting the goods.
When choosing a styrofoam (foam) container, ensure that the container size matches the size of the goods and dry ice. Larger containers will increase the rate of dry ice evaporation, reducing the cooling effect and storage time for the goods. Additionally, larger containers increase transportation costs when shipping by air.
Safety precautions when using dry ice
It is important to use dry ice correctly to avoid CO2 poisoning and other hazards:
- Wear rubber or thick insulated gloves when handling dry ice.
- Avoid direct contact with skin and eyes, as dry ice can cause frostbite.
- Do not use dry ice in confined spaces, as the accumulating CO2 gas can cause asphyxiation. Ensure adequate ventilation.
