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Topic: How to make nitrogen through fractional distillation of air?  (Read 6796 times)

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Offline cyzoner

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How to make nitrogen through fractional distillation of air?
« on: November 10, 2010, 01:16:16 PM »
And what equipment would I need?

Offline Stepan

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Re: How to make nitrogen through fractional distillation of air?
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2010, 03:00:31 PM »
It is hard to make and will cost you a fortune. Plus it is not safe.

It is much cheaper to buy (as liquid or gas). Nitrogen is a byproduct in many processes.

Offline eugenedakin

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Re: How to make nitrogen through fractional distillation of air?
« Reply #2 on: November 11, 2010, 12:30:45 PM »
Hi cyzoner,

Stepan is right, it is expensive, difficult to make, and can be dangerous.

The equipment you will need is 1) a separator (one that is able to separate nitrogen from other molecular sizes, 2) the air must be extremely dry (severe corrosion issues), 3) you must remove all combustible material - this includes oxygen - if not, during the compression phase the material will combust, 4) compress into liquid form for transportation, 5) have a compressed storage vessel, 6) maintain and inspect everything on a weekly basis.

I hope this helps,

Eugene
There are 10 kinds of people in this world: Those who understand binary, and those that do not.

Offline Enthalpy

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Re: How to make nitrogen through fractional distillation of air?
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2011, 01:41:44 PM »
A nice use for high-temperature superconductors. In the form of nanoporous ceramic. Magnetic properties of O2 lets create a Meissner effect with the nearby superconductor (hence nanoporous) and this separates N2 from O2.

At least, it was proposed so. No idea if someone implemented it. On an industrial scale, distillation must be cheaper, as one wants liquids for the subsequent transport. But it can have local uses to produce small amounts.

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