Industrial gases are inextricably woven into the fabric of modern
manufacturing. From the primary extraction of raw materials, through
their intermediate processing to manufacture metals, chemicals and
ceramics, to the fabrication of sophisticated industrial, consumer and
food products, gases are used across the whole spectrum of industry. The
isolation, manufature and supply of these gases is a major industry in
itself; the 300 million tones of gas used each year generates sales in
excess of $20 billion. In terms of tonnage, nitrogen has become the most
used industrial gas, finding applications across the whole range of
industry. It is still manufactured by liquifying and then distilling
air, but as applications develop and demand increases, newer methods of
isolation, such as pressure swing absorbtion and membrane seperation
will become important. This new book introduces the main industrial
gases and the gases industry, it discusses the main technologies for
their isolation, seperation, manufacture and handling. In addition, the
book contains an overview of the main applications of industrial gases
and a brief discussion of new production processes and applications.
Chemists, chemical engineers, physicists and technologists involved in
the research and development, production or utilisation of industrial
gases will find this concise book an essential and accessable reference
source. For advanced students of these disciplines, the book provides a
fascinating overview of this important industry.
