Is Food Grade Co2 Different from Regular Co2?
Is there a difference between food-grade carbon dioxide and regular carbon dioxide?
Are food-grade carbon dioxide and regular carbon dioxide the same? Actually, they share the same chemical formula—CO₂—but there are significant differences in purity and usage standards.
What is food-grade carbon dioxide?
Food-grade carbon dioxide and regular industrial carbon dioxide are chemically identical—both are CO₂. However, the difference lies in purity and safety standards. Food-grade carbon dioxide undergoes multiple purification processes to ensure extremely low impurity levels, eliminating any potential health risks. It must comply with food safety regulations and meet standards suitable for direct use in beverage and food processing.
What is regular carbon dioxide?
Ordinary carbon dioxide is what we often call industrial CO₂. Its chemical formula is identical to food-grade CO₂, but its purity and application standards differ. Ordinary CO₂ does not require the same high purity as food-grade CO₂ and is primarily used in industries where it is not directly consumed.
The difference between them:
| Food-grade CO2 | Ordinary carbon dioxide | |
| Purity Requirements | Higher purity, meets food safety standards, and is suitable for direct food contact | Purity requirements are relatively low, only needing to meet industrial standards. |
| Main Applications | Beverage aeration (carbonated beverages, beer, soda water), food preservation (filling into packaging to extend freshness), and cold chain transportation (dry ice maintains low temperatures) | Welding and cutting (shielding gas, reducing oxidation), chemical production (synthesis, reactions), firefighting (electrical and oil fires), scientific research (laboratory gas source). |
| Features | Enables beverages to taste better and food to stay fresher, making it suitable for the food industry | Widely used in industry, scientific research, and firefighting. Not suitable for food processing. |
Different china co2 cylinders
To store these gases, we also have different china co2 cylinders: steel china co2 cylinders and aluminum china co2 cylinders. Steel china co2 cylinders are sturdy and durable, commonly used in industry and firefighting. They can withstand high pressures and have a larger capacity, making them ideal for factory workshops and fire extinguishers. Aluminum china co2 cylinders are lightweight and attractive, and are commonly used in the food and beverage industry, such as beer dispensers, soda fountains, and even coffee shop aeration systems.
Steel China CO2 gas cylinders are commonly found in the industrial and firefighting sectors. Made from high-strength steel, they can withstand high pressures, have a large capacity, and offer exceptional durability. Whether used as gas shielding in welding plants or as emergency reserves in fire extinguishers, steel china CO2 cylinders ensure safety and stability. However, due to their weight and rust-prone nature, they are not the best choice for the food and beverage industry, where cleanliness is paramount.
Compared to steel cylinders, aluminum China CO2 gas cylinders are lighter and more attractive, making them widely used in the food and beverage industry. Aluminum cylinders maintain a clean interior, preventing rust or impurities from affecting gas quality. This is why more and more beverage companies, coffee shops, and breweries are using aluminum China CO2 gas cylinders to store food-grade CO2.
The safety of CO2 cylinders is paramount. Every china co2 gas cylinder produced by Snowrain undergoes rigorous testing before leaving the factory, including water pressure testing, burst testing, and airtightness testing, with corresponding reports issued. Only cylinders that pass these tests can guarantee stability and reliability under high pressure. To ensure user confidence, many china co2 gas cylinders also hold international certifications, such as ISO, CE, and SGS.
Snowrain consistently adheres to high production standards. Every china co2 gas cylinder we produce undergoes rigorous testing to ensure we provide our customers with safe and reliable cylinders. We welcome you to visit our factory, observe our CO2 cylinder production process, and learn more about our capabilities. We look forward to collaborating with more partners to explore a broader market.