nexAir’s Impact on the Chemical Industry: Providing High-Quality Gases for Production

Talk to any chemical plant manager about what keeps them up at night, and gas supply probably won’t top their list – until something goes wrong with it. That’s when they discover just how critical those tanks and cylinders really are. Behind countless chemical reactions that create the products we use daily are industrial gases that prevent fires, drive reactions, cool processes, and keep materials pure. We’ve been supplying these gases to chemical producers across the Southeast long enough to understand just how much rides on getting this part of their operation right.

Nitrogen: The Unsung Hero of Chemical Safety

“We need more nitrogen” might be the most common call we get from chemical plants. It’s their workhorse gas – the one that pushes oxygen out of places where it doesn’t belong. Plant operators rely on our nitrogen deliveries to blanket their storage tanks, purge lines before maintenance, and create safe environments during production. For some sensitive chemicals, even a little oxygen exposure means ruined product or worse, dangerous reactions.

What makes nitrogen so valuable is exactly what makes it boring – it doesn’t react with much. That chemical laziness is precisely what manufacturers need when they’re handling compounds that would otherwise break down, catch fire, or change color when exposed to air. Whether it’s drumming up specialty polymers or packaging finished surfactants, our nitrogen helps keep products stable from production line to customer delivery.

The Super-Pure Gases Behind Quality Testing

The lab folks at chemical plants are some of the pickiest customers we serve – and with good reason. When you’re testing batches worth thousands or even millions of dollars, you need gases that won’t throw off your instruments. We supply the ultra-high purity helium, hydrogen, and calibration gas mixtures that analytical teams use to verify product quality. Their gas chromatographs and spectrometers depend on these gases being consistently pure batch after batch.

It might sound simple, but delivering gas that’s 99.999% pure (or better) to these labs takes serious attention to detail. Everything from the cylinder preparation to the delivery method has to maintain that purity. For chemical manufacturers who live and die by their specs, this level of consistency isn’t a luxury – it’s essential to their reputation with customers.

Carbon Dioxide: Not Just for Bubbles Anymore

Most people think of CO₂ as the stuff in soda, but chemical manufacturers have found dozens of practical uses for it. We supply liquid carbon dioxide that’s used to gently lower pH in water treatment systems and certain chemical processes. Plant engineers like it because it’s easier to handle than acids, more predictable to control, and doesn’t create the corrosion headaches that stronger pH adjusters can cause.

Our specialized KnowHow™ includes understanding which gases can solve specific production challenges. When a chemical plant calls asking about pH adjustment options that won’t damage their expensive stainless equipment, carbon dioxide often enters the conversation as a practical alternative they might not have considered.

Hydrogen: Powering Reactions That Create Everyday Products

From margarine to motor oil additives, hydrogen plays a key role in chemical processes that create products we rarely think about. We keep chemical manufacturers supplied with the hydrogen they need for these hydrogenation reactions – processes that often run 24/7 and can’t tolerate interruptions. For plants running these processes, reliable hydrogen delivery isn’t just about convenience; it’s about keeping production moving.

For companies just starting to use hydrogen, we share straightforward information about safe handling and storage. While customers work with their engineers on system design, we focus on helping them understand the unique properties of hydrogen that influence how it should be managed in their facilities.

Oxygen: Creating Building Blocks for Countless Products

Chemical oxidation might sound destructive, but it’s actually a creative force in many manufacturing processes. We deliver liquid and gaseous oxygen that helps produce everything from polyester resins to pharmaceutical ingredients. The same oxygen also helps many chemical plants treat their wastewater, breaking down organic compounds before water leaves their facility.

When summer heat waves push cooling systems to their limits, having reliable oxygen delivery becomes even more critical for plants running oxidation reactions that generate additional heat. Our delivery schedules adjust to these seasonal patterns, helping plants maintain production even during the most challenging weather conditions.

Growing With Chemical Innovators

As chemical manufacturers develop new processes and products, their gas needs evolve too. We make it our business to understand where our customers are headed so we can support them as they Forge Forward with new initiatives. Whether it’s supplying a different purity level or adding a gas they haven’t used before, we work to align our capabilities with their changing requirements.

The chemical industry creates the building blocks for countless products that improve our daily lives. We’re proud to supply the high-quality gases that help make this innovation possible, even if most people never think about this invisible but essential part of the manufacturing process.