Industrial gases are gases that are specifically produced for use in industry. The most commonly used gases are nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon, hydrogen, helium, and acetylene. In addition to these gases, other mixtures are also available in gas cylinders. The production and supply of these gases, as well as the equipment and technology for their production and use, are referred to as the industrial gas industry. This industry is part of the broader chemical industry, where industrial gases are often considered “specialty chemicals”.

Industrial gases are used in many different industries, such as the oil and gas industry, petrochemical industry, chemical industry, energy and mining sector, steel and metal industry, environmental protection, medicine, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food industry, water treatment, fertilizer production, nuclear energy, electronics, and aviation industry. These gases are mainly sold to industrial enterprises, where large orders are usually placed for business-industrial customers, ranging from building a process plant or pipeline to delivering gas cylinders.

Some trading at a small scale is done through local agents who supply wholesale goods. This includes the sale or rental of gas cylinders and related equipment to artisans and sometimes the general public. This includes products such as balloon helium, dispensing gases for beer kegs, welding gases and equipment, LPG, and medical oxygen.

In addition to the industrial gas companies and their agents, there are also portable gas containers available that can deliver LPG, butane, propane, carbon dioxide, or nitrogen. These containers are often referred to as cylinders, bottles, capsules, or cans and are suitable for consumer use. Some examples include whipped-cream chargers, powerlets, campingaz, and sodastream.

Characteristics of industrial gases

From a scientific perspective, gases are a state of matter without a prescribed shape or volume. Gases have unique properties and characteristics, depending on variables such as temperature, pressure, and volume to which they are exposed. Gases have low density, take on the volume of their container (or evaporate into the atmosphere), mix well with other gases, and are more compressible than solids and liquids. Although industrial gases are stored as liquids or solids in some cases, they are typically used in gaseous form.