The Science Behind Dry Ice: How nexAir Helps the Food Industry Maintain Cold Chain Logistics

In its gaseous form, carbon dioxide is best known for being a greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. It’s a serious issue that industries across the world are committing to fighting. But in its solid form, CO₂ is a blessing for sustainability efforts.

The versatile product known better as dry ice has an incredible number of applications, particularly when it comes to keeping food fresh for long periods. In this article, we’ll explore why nexAir’s dry ice is such a critical component of cold chain logistics. 

What is Dry Ice and How Is It Made?

Dry ice is created by compressing and cooling carbon dioxide gas. Once it reaches temperatures of around -109.3 degrees F, the gas condenses into solid dry ice. 

This process is known as vapor deposition. It’s what ensures that the  CO₂  doesn’t turn into its liquid state. A prominent example of this in nature is when water vapors turn directly into ice creating frost and snow. There are many reasons for doing this — but the most prominent is that dry ice is an integral part of the cold chain.

The substance has an extremely low surface temperature, making it the ideal solution for preserving food across long distances. 

Why Dry Ice is Critical For Cold Chain Logistics 

There are several properties of dry ice that make it invaluable for food storage and shipping. Apart from being extremely cold, it’s also colorless, odorless, and tasteless, preventing it from affecting the flavor or integrity of the food. 

Its properties also make it a superior option to regular ice, formed from water. Dry ice is much colder, lasts much longer, and keeps items frozen solid for extended periods.  Once procured, it is essentially a passive refrigerant. It requires no electricity or moving parts, making it invaluable in situations where refrigeration isn’t possible — such as during long distance shipping.

Moreover, when dry ice enters into contact with the atmosphere, it doesn’t turn into liquid, but directly into its gaseous form. We see this in the form of vapors escaping the substance. This happens due to sublimation, the direct opposite of deposition. Since dry ice bypasses the liquid state, it prevents moisture build-up from accelerating spoilage.

In certain environments, small amounts of CO₂ gas can inhibit the growth of microbes, acting as a mild preservative. This helps extend shelf life during transport. 

nexAir’s Role in Cold Chain Logistics

Dry ice is a crucial component of cold chain logistics, as it ensures products remain within a specific temperature range from production to consumption. If this chain is broken, even briefly, it can compromise shelf life.

When you work with nexAir, however, you will never face any interruption in your supply. As a leading producer of dry ice across the Southeast, we’re known for: 

• Providing dry ice in pellets, blocks, or slices to suit various packaging needs. 
• Our reliable distribution network for expedited deliveries.
• Sustainable CO₂ sourcing, often captured emissions from industrial processes.
• Expert KnowHow that allows us to constantly innovate new solutions.

By supporting cold chains with dependable dry ice solutions, nexAir helps the food and beverage industry Forge Forward into the future. You’ll find all our dry ice products on our new ecommerce platform. Go ahead and check it out today. 

References: 

• https://www.nexair.com/learning-center/the-role-of-dry-ice-in-shipping-and-cold-chain-logistics-ensuring-product-integrity/
• https://www.nexair.com/learning-center/the-science-behind-dry-ice/
• https://www.nexair.com/learning-center/sustainable-solutions-reducing-waste-with-nexairs-dry-ice/
• https://www.yeti.com/blog/dry-ice-vs-regular-ice-in-coolers.html
• https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Sublimation_and_deposition
• https://foodnbeveragesprocessing.com/exploring-the-versatility-of-dry-ice-in-the-food-and-beverage-industry/
• https://cksupply.com/how-the-cold-chain-industry-uses-dry-ice-for-shipping-perishables/