Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is utilized in a variety of applications across many different industries. What makes it unique is its versatility, as it is commercially available in multiple forms: as a gas for uses like carbonation, purging, and pH regulation; as a liquid in food processing and fire suppression; as a solid for cooling and refrigeration; and as a supercritical fluid in specialized extraction processes, such as those for caffeine and cannabis. As part of one of Earth’s gas cycles, plants use CO₂ and convert it to oxygen. Dry ice is the solid state of carbon dioxide. It’s widely used as a cooling agent in various applications, including food chilling and freezing, vaccine storage, temporary refrigeration, preservation of blood and tissue samples, metal heat treatments, and more. Additionally, it is often used to create special effects like fog for events or stage performances.
