Industrial gases are gaseous chemicals manufactured for use in various industries. They can be pure elements (like oxygen), compounds (like carbon dioxide), or mixtures. These gases are often supplied in compressed cylinders, cryogenic liquid form, or through pipelines.
🧪 1. OXYGEN (O₂)
🔹 Properties:
Colorless, odorless, tasteless gas
Supports combustion
Non-flammable (but highly reactive)
🔹 Uses:
Industry
Application
Welding/Cutting
Oxy-acetylene cutting & welding
Steelmaking
Used in Basic Oxygen Furnaces to refine molten iron
Medical
Respiratory support for patients
Waste Treatment
Speeds up aerobic biological processes
Aerospace
Used in rocket propulsion (as oxidizer)
🔥 2. ACETYLENE (C₂H₂)
🔹 Properties:
Highly flammable, colorless gas
Unstable in pure form under pressure
🔹 Uses:
Industry
Application
Welding
Oxy-acetylene torch for metal cutting & welding
Metal Fabrication
Heating, flame cleaning, brazing
Laboratories
Organic synthesis processes
❄️ 3. NITROGEN (N₂)
🔹 Properties:
Inert, colorless, odorless
Non-flammable
Commonly used in liquid and gaseous form
🔹 Uses:
Industry
Application
Food
Packaging to increase shelf life
Electronics
Inert atmosphere for chip manufacturing
Chemical
Blanketing of reactors and tanks
Cryogenics
Supercooling, preserving biological samples
Oil & Gas
Pressure testing and purging pipelines
💨 4. ARGON (Ar)
🔹 Properties:
Noble gas, inert
Colorless, odorless
Non-flammable
🔹 Uses:
Industry
Application
Welding
Shielding gas in TIG & MIG welding
Electronics
Inert atmosphere for silicon crystal growth
Lighting
Used in fluorescent and incandescent bulbs
Metal Production
Protects molten metals from oxidation
💧 5. CARBON DIOXIDE (CO₂)
🔹 Properties:
Colorless, odorless, heavier than air
Non-flammable but can displace oxygen
🔹 Uses:
Industry
Application
Beverage
Carbonation of drinks
Welding
Shielding gas in MAG welding
Fire Safety
Fire extinguishers (Class B & C fires)
Greenhouses
Promotes plant growth
Dry Ice
Used for cooling, blasting, preservation
🌡️ 6. HELIUM (He)
🔹 Properties:
Lightest noble gas
Non-flammable, inert
Low boiling point
🔹 Uses:
Industry
Application
Medical
MRI cooling, breathing mixtures for deep-sea diving
Aerospace
Pressurizing fuel tanks
Electronics
Leak detection, inert atmosphere
Welding
Shielding gas for aluminum and magnesium
Balloons
Non-flammable lifting gas
🧫 7. HYDROGEN (H₂)
🔹 Properties:
Lightest element
Colorless, highly flammable
🔹 Uses:
Industry
Application
Ammonia Production
Key raw material in Haber process
Petrochemical
Hydrogenation of fuels & cracking
Metal Industry
Reducing agent
Clean Energy
Hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles
Glass Production
Cooling agent for float glass lines
⚗️ 8. NITROUS OXIDE (N₂O)
🔹 Properties:
Sweet-smelling gas
Colorless, non-flammable but supports combustion
🔹 Uses:
Industry
Application
Medical
Anesthetic gas (laughing gas)
Automotive
Performance enhancer in racing engines
Food
Propellant in whipped cream cans
🧊 9. AMMONIA (NH₃)
🔹 Properties:
Pungent odor
Colorless, toxic in high concentrations
🔹 Uses:
Industry
Application
Agriculture
Fertilizer production (urea, nitrate)
Refrigeration
Industrial cooling systems
Textile
Mercerization and dyeing
Cleaning
Household and industrial cleaners
🔎 10. SPECIALTY / MIXED GASES
These include carefully blended gas mixtures used in:
Calibration of instruments
Medical diagnostics
Laser operations
Semiconductor manufacturing
Examples:
Argon-CO₂ Mixtures: MIG welding of mild steel
Helium-Oxygen Mixtures: Deep-sea diving (Heliox)
Ethylene-Oxide: Sterilization gas in hospitals
⚠️ Safety Notes for Industrial Gases
Gas
Risk
Precaution
O₂
Supports fire
No oils/grease near oxygen
H₂, C₂H₂
Explosive
Leak-proof fittings, ventilation
CO₂, N₂
Asphyxiant
Use in ventilated areas
NH₃
Toxic
PPE, leak detection required
N₂O
Narcotic effect
Medical use only with proper regulation
🏢 Available at SEMEC Agencies Nigeria Limited
As a trusted industrial supply partner in Port Harcourt, SEMEC Agencies Nigeria Limited offers a wide range of industrial gases, including:
Oxygen (O₂)
Acetylene (C₂H₂)
Nitrogen (N₂)
Argon (Ar)
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
Helium (He)
Hydrogen (H₂)
Ammonia (NH₃)
Specialty Gas Mixtures
📦 We serve clients in fabrication, medical, oil & gas, beverage, and manufacturing sectors.
📞 Contact us for dependable gas supply, cylinder refilling, and technical guidance on choosing the right gas for your application.
