Importance and uses of carbon dioxide gas, How carbon dioxide is useful for our life?

by Heba Soffar · Published April 27, 2015 · Updated June 28, 2024

Carbon dioxide gas is very important in our life as it is used in chemistry for controlling reactor temperatures, It is used to neutralize alkaline effluents, it is used in supercritical conditions for purifying or drying polymers, and animal or vegetal fibers.

Carbon dioxide uses

Carbon dioxide gas is used in making the dry ice which is used in refrigeration through pressure and cooling processes, where carbon dioxide gas will be liquid by pressure and cooling, and the liquid carbon dioxide will be dry ice by relieving and pressure.

Carbon dioxide gas is used in wastewater treatment as a cooling medium in the environmental testing of electronic devices, it is used to add conductivity to ultrapure water, and it is used as an environmentally friendly supercritical fluid for removing the photoresist from the wafers to avoid the organic solvent use.

Carbon dioxide gas in extinguishing fires

Carbon dioxide gas is used in extinguishing fires because it does not burn and does not help in burning, and it is used in making soft drinks, mineral water, or beer, and rapid vaporization of liquid carbon dioxide is used for blasting in the coal mines.

Carbon dioxide gas is used by the food industry, the oil industry, and the chemical industry, It is used in many consumer products that require pressurized gas because it is inexpensive and nonflammable, and high concentrations of carbon dioxide can also be used to kill the pests.

Carbon dioxide gas is used in making the bread bubbled, where the yeast produces CO2 by fermentation by adding the yeast to the dough, carbon dioxide is produced and expanded by the heat making the bread porous and tasty.

Carbon dioxide gas has great importance for the continuity of life on Earth as it is necessary for the photosynthesis process of plants and all living organisms, and it produces oxygen gas that is necessary for the respiration process.

Carbon dioxide gas is used in pharmaceutical and other chemical processing as it is a less toxic alternative to more traditional solvents such as organochlorides, It is used in the chemical industry, It is used for the production of urea, carbonates, bicarbonates, and sodium salicylate.

Carbon dioxide gas is used in medicine as up to 5% of carbon dioxide is added to pure oxygen for stimulation of breathing after apnea and to stabilize the O2 / CO2 balance in the blood.

Carbon dioxide gas is used in the packaging of foodstuffs as its inerting and bacteriostatic properties are used successfully in nitrogen mixtures to increase the shelf life of many food products.

Small amounts of liquid carbon dioxide gas can be used in the recycling of waters from Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), It can be used in non-ferrous metallurgy, and carbon dioxide is used for fume suppression during ladle transfer of matte (Cu / Ni production) or bullion (Zn / Pb production).

How carbon dioxide is useful for our life?

Plant Growth: CO2 is like food for plants. During photosynthesis, plants take in CO2 and water, using sunlight as energy to produce carbohydrates (sugars) that they need to grow and thrive. In turn, they release oxygen (O2) as a byproduct, which is essential for respiration in animals and humans.
Natural Greenhouse Effect: CO2 acts like a blanket for Earth, trapping some of the sun’s heat and preventing our planet from becoming too cold. This natural greenhouse effect is essential for maintaining a habitable temperature range.
Industrial Processes: CO2 is used in various industrial processes, such as fire extinguishers (it displaces oxygen to smother flames), inflating life jackets, and even as a refrigerant.
Food Production: In greenhouses, controlled amounts of CO2 can be added to boost plant growth and crop yields.
Carbonated Beverages: CO2 is what gives fizzy drinks their bubbles and refreshing taste.