Pharmaceutical is a diverse industry. Nitrogen gas will find a use in many different applications and processors, starting from the raw material preparations, down to the product packaging. Nitrogen has almost inert gas properties, so it becomes difficult for Nitrogen to react with the other element easily. Nitrogen is readily available. The ability and the abundance to separate the Nitrogen from the other gases using a PSA nitrogen process and the cryogenic separation process, which means that Nitrogen is cheap to produce in large quantities at high purity levels.
In the medical filed the raw materials such as the APIs, and the inactive ingredients that are sensitive to oxygen will need to be kept in an inert atmosphere. All to prevent their exposure to oxygen and the spoilage that comes from oxidation.
During movement and storage of the oxygen-sensitive materials, the Nitrogen will get used as a purging gas. Nitrogen is used in transferring pharmaceutical products. The use of the safe, inert gas in order to transfer liquids or powder materials is necessary. These are the types of materials that can be hazardous if they are not appropriately handled.
During the production of sterile medical products, atmospheric contamination will need to be avoided at all costs. In those cases, the positive pressure is created using Nitrogen. The positive pressure creation will prevent the ingress of air, which will eliminate the risk of contamination. Nitrogen is frequently used in the packaging of different medical supplies to help keep them sterile and clean.
Nitrogen is used to remove oxygen from the packaging right before it gets sealed so it will create an environment that is made of purity N2 gas. This will help to protect and preserve the product when it is being transported. For the drug products which may be prone to get oxidised. During the packing process, a void space will often remain in the pack before sealing it. Moisture and oxygen will be present in the air in this voided space of the pack that is sealed, resulting in the degradation of the drug or medical equipment.
Nitrogen generators are used to keep tools and equipment sterile and dry, which will improve its durability. The test kids for offices, doctors’ surgeries specimen containers and blood supplies are the examples of the items that are packed with the N2 gas.
Blanketing using Nitrogen can help to improve and preserve the quality of the pharmaceuticals and other types of medical products. Blanketing with the N2 gas is essentially displacing the oxygen that is present with the Nitrogen, so there is only a small chance of the oxygens harmful side effects. Corrosion, oxidation and rust are reactions that can occur when oxygen has been present. This can seriously damage or alter the product that is being handled and manufactured. In the medical industry, it is essential that the conditions for the safe manufacturing handling of the products and them being preserved.
Nitrogen gas or air receivers also play a role in fire suppression, which is an obvious volatile environment. Any chemicals that are used in the manufacturing process are flammable and highly explosive with some even combusting when they are exposed to air. When it comes to handling all chemical ingredients, the Nitrogen is effective in preventing the atmospheric exposures.
Nitrogen gas plays an important part in fire suppression in a volatile manufacturing environment. Many substances used in the manufacturing process are extremely dangerous or flammable, and some may be subjected to spontaneous combustion when exposed to air. In the handling of all such chemical components, Nitrogen is very useful in the prevention of atmospheric exposure.