Author: progases

Pro Gases UK is looking for a Gas Cylinder Filling Assistant at the Bootle headquarters.

Applicants will conduct various tasks ranging from gas cylinder assembly, gas filling, sorting, inspecting and labeling. Some tasks can be physically demanding with lifting and sorting of gas cylinders.

The right candidate will be a hard-working, conscientious person who likes and finds it easy to work with others. We value accuracy and the ability to take responsibility for the work you are undertaking. A good knowledge of health and safety is essential, and training will be provided.

Forklift truck driving may be required to move stillages on the yard, as well as side loading and unloading of trucks. This skill is preferred but not essential as training may be provided for the right candidate.

Hours of work are 40 hours per week (0830-1700), Mon-Fri (occasional weekend work may be required and will be discussed at interview).

Salary dependent on experience. Extensive training will be provided and so experience with handling gases is not necessary.

 

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £23,500.00 per year

Schedule: Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types: Performance bonus

Work Location: In person

Please contact info@progasesuk.com to enquire about the role.

Pro Gases UK is looking for a Class 1 ADR Driver to join our growing team.The candidate must have a valid Class 1 license with ADR and CPC trained. The role is to drive and operate ISO road tankers, which store and transport large quantities of Liquid Carbon Dioxide from suppliers to customer sites.
 
This role requires tramping, with a shift pattern of 4 days on, 4 days off. Flexibility will be required to help support the team and fulfil customer deliveries.
 
Necessary training will be provided with the handling and use of cryogenics.
 
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: Up to £52,000.00 per year
Benefits: Company pension & Performance BonusSchedule: 4 days on, 4 days off
Experience: Driving a Goods Vehicle: 5 years (required)Licence/Certification: Driver CPC & Class 2 tanks ADR license (required)
Work Location: On the road

Please contact info@progasesuk.com to enquire about the role.

Welding is a fabrication technique in which two or more parts are fused together with heat, pressure, or both to form a join that will hold when they cool. The weld quality, droplet transfer, current transfer, and, welding speed are all affected by the gas used. 

The main goal when using gases to weld is to keep the weld pool as safe as possible. Other considerations include keeping welds clean on the opposite side of the seam, and shielding the arc from impurities such as air, dust, and other gases [1]. 

Gases used for Welding and Cutting Metals

There are two types of gases: inert and reactive. When in contact with other substances or temperatures, inert gases do not alter or generate change. Reactive gases, on the other hand, have the opposite effect. They react in a variety of ways, causing other substances and/or themselves to change state. 

The following gases are utilised in welding and cutting processes [2].

  • Acetylene, propane, and butane are known as fuel gases

  • Oxygen, used with fuel gases and in small amounts in some shielding gas mixtures

  •  Carbon dioxide, argon, and helium are known as shielding gases.

Argon

Argon is in charge of all the shielding agents on the planet. It has good penetrating power and can keep a consistent arc to make welding easier. It can be used to weld sheet metal using gas tungsten arc welding, because it provides a higher level of weld puddle control.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Pure CO2 allows for an extremely deep weld penetration, which is advantageous when welding thicker materials. When combined with other gases, however, it generates a less stable arc and more splatter.

Compressed Air

Compressed air is utilised in welding in a variety of ways. Compressed air is commonly used to clear dust, swarf, and other dry materials from the workshop. Air nozzles attached to compressors with hoses spray air out to blow away dirt [3].

Oxygen

Oxygen is currently considered a raw ingredient in the welding industry. The production of modern steel necessitates a large amount of oxygen. In blast furnaces, Oxygen is required for flame enrichment in the pre-treatment of iron to eliminate faults in blooms, slabs, and billets.

Acetylene

Oxyacetylene welding, often known as gas welding, is a welding procedure that uses the combustion of Oxygen and Acetylene. When combined in the proper proportions in a hand-held torch or blowpipe, a relatively hot flame with a temperature of around 3,200 degrees is created. The high flame temperature makes acetylene a suitable choice for gas welding steels. Acetylene also produces a reducing zone, which is used to easily clean metal surfaces.

Helium

Helium is commonly employed as a welder shielding gas due of its high thermal conductivity, ability to deliver a wider and shallower application penetration pattern during the welding process, and ability to increase wetting of the weld bead. The welding sector, on the other hand, is facing some difficulties due to the impending helium scarcity.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen increases weld penetration and arc stability. Gas blends containing nitrogen can increase the mechanical properties of alloys containing nitrogen and prevent pitting corrosion and nitrogen loss from the metal. 

Mixed Gases

There are many different gases to choose from, each of which excels in different areas and falls short in others. Mixed gases provide a useful balance for combining the strengths of several gases to create a harmonised product with outstanding outcomes.  

  • Argon and CO2
  • Argon, CO2 and Oxygen
  • Helium and Argon
  • Argon, Helium and CO2
  • Argon and Oxygen
  • Argon and Hydrogen
  • Nitrogen and Hydrogen.

 

One of the most common mixtures of gases used for welding is Argon, CO2, and Oxygen. This gas mixture is used mostly by MIG welders who work with mild steel. Depending on the thickness of the metal, the concentration of CO2 will differ. The thicker the metal, the more CO2 in the gas mixture is required.

At Pro Gases UK, our most popular gases used for welding is pure Argon, and Argon mixes, with percentages of CO2 between 5%, 15%, and 20%.

Ruth Evans MBE visited new Member, Pro Gases UK, based in Liverpool.
Listed as the UK’s largest independent beverage gases and bulk green CO2 supplier.

In the quest for a greener future, industries are seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional carbon dioxide (CO2) production methods. Biogas plants have emerged as a beacon of hope, utilising anaerobic digestion to produce green CO2. This blog explores the fascinating process of green CO2 production through anaerobic digestion and highlights its environmental benefits.

Understanding Anaerobic Digestion:

Anaerobic digestion is a natural process that occurs in the absence of oxygen. It involves the breakdown of organic materials, such as food waste, agricultural residue, or animal manure, by microorganisms. These microorganisms break down the organic matter and produce biogas, a mixture of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The biogas generated typically contains approximately 60% biomethane, a renewable fuel, and 34% CO2, which is considered a natural residual product.

Green CO2 Recovery:

Rather than allowing the CO2 component of biogas to go to waste or be released into the atmosphere, biogas plants employ specialised units to recover and recycle the CO2. This step is crucial in enhancing the sustainability and circular economy credentials of biogas production. The green CO2 obtained from this process is considered a valuable resource with numerous potential applications in various industries.

Environmental Advantages:

The production of green CO2 through anaerobic digestion at biogas plants offers significant environmental advantages. Firstly, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and utilizing CO2 that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. Moreover, anaerobic digestion diverts organic waste materials from landfills, mitigating the generation of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Secondly, biogas production and the subsequent recovery of green CO2 contribute to a circular economy by utilising organic waste as a valuable resource. This process aligns with sustainability goals by minimising waste and promoting resource efficiency.

Additionally, the carbon in green CO2 originates from plant matter that has absorbed CO2 from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. This makes biogas production and green CO2 recovery a carbon-neutral process, as it does not contribute to the net increase of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Applications and Potential:

Green CO2 from biogas plants has a wide range of applications across various industries. It can be used for carbonation in beverages, as an ingredient in food processing, and in agricultural practices to enhance plant growth. Industries such as breweries, food and beverage, agriculture, and manufacturing can integrate green CO2 into their day-to-day operations and contribute to a more sustainable future.

The production of green CO2 through anaerobic digestion at biogas plants is a remarkable feat in sustainability and environmental stewardship. By harnessing this process, industries can reduce their carbon footprint, contribute to a circular economy, and explore innovative applications of green CO2. Embracing green CO2 signifies a crucial step towards a greener and more sustainable future.

It is estimated that more than 230 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 is used every year worldwide. The fertiliser industry is the largest consumer, with 130 Mt of CO2 used in urea manufacturing, followed by oil and gas, which consumes 70 to 80 Mt of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery.

Many industries depend upon CO2 for their day-to-day operations and production, such as breweries, food and beverage and agriculture to name a few. 

Traditional CO2 Production and its Harmful Impacts

There are many methods of producing CO2 – such as distilling CO2 from the air, but such a method is expensive and inefficient. It is usually more efficient to capture CO2 from other sources where it is a waste material. The majority of CO2 utilised by industry today is a by-product of fossil fuel operations, most often from natural gas or coal-fueled facilities producing ammonia. The gas released during the combustion of these fuels releases harmful amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, now reaching alarming levels.

The rise in CO2 levels produces an excess of greenhouse gases, which causes global warming, which causes climate change. The symptoms of which include melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels, disruption of animal natural habitats, extreme weather events, and a slew of other dangerous side effects. Many are acting by looking at new ways to produce CO2 to try and reduce harmful levels being released into the atmosphere – one of the ways is the production of CO2 from biogas.

Biogas and Green CO2

In recent years, biogas has gained favour as a “greener” fuel. This is the methane produced by anaerobic digestion, which can be utilised to replace conventional natural gas in landfills or “digesters” that convert animal manure or food waste. 

Biogas typically contains 60% biomethane, which is a renewable fuel, and 34% CO2, which is a natural residual product. Rather than wasting and emitting this residual CO2, a specially built unit is designed to recover and recycle all the CO2, enhancing the facility’s sustainability and circular economy credentials. Green CO2 created from biogas is believed to have higher supply reliability and be a more sustainable product than regular CO2 derived from fossil fuels. 

Biogas also helps to reduce methane emissions from landfills and manure lagoons that might otherwise escape. By turning this methane into CO2, which is up to 34 times less potent as a greenhouse gas, using it as a fuel significantly minimises its climatic impact.

As the carbon in biogas comes from plant matter that has fixed CO2 from the atmosphere, biogas production is considered carbon-neutral and does not contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases. Furthermore, any fossil fuel consumption that is replaced by biogas reduces CO2 emissions.

In summary, the production of CO2 through biogas is up to 34 times less potent compared to the production of CO2 through conventional processes. It is also more environmentally friendly and green CO2 can be utilised in many industries and industrial processes. CO2 is also being used to innovate different technologies, such as the development of new building materials that could permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere. Green CO2 is the future – will you join us?

Pro Gases UK supplies bulk green CO2 to businesses across the UK.

The benefits of green CO2 and our service are simple:

– Continuity of supply all year round with no surcharges

– Tested and fully certified gases to food grade standards, providing customers quality assurance

– A simple supply chain without complexities to minimise disruption and reduce costs.

For more information, call us on 0151 922 1118, or submit your details below.

Get a quote

As technology evolves and we continue to innovate, semiconductor manufacturers are under increasing pressure to create and produce smaller, faster performing components. The use of quality gases is an essential part of this process.

 

Nitrogen and Oxygen are two of the commonly used gases in semiconductor manufacturing. Nitrogen, because of its inert nature, as well as being cheap and readily available. Oxygen, because of its purity and properties as an oxidizing agent. 

 

Here we provide high-level insight into the qualities of Nitrogen and Oxygen, and how each gas is used in the semiconductor manufacturing process.

 

Nitrogen

 

Nitrogen contains compounds such as ammonia and nitrous oxide which are used in the process of deposition to fabricate high-quality semiconductors. During deposition, substrate and gaseous reactants interact within a reaction chamber at high temperatures. This results in progressive layers of thin films of material – this process is continued until the wanted thickness is achieved.

 

Nitrogen is also used in the process of purging. Purging is used to keep surfaces free from other gaseous and liquid contaminants that could negatively impact the manufacturing process. In this process, Nitrogen is passed through all channels and piping to displace oxygen from contaminating production tools.

 

Oxygen

 

In the process of silicon layer deposition, Oxygen forms a vital part of the deposition reactions. It can be used with Argon or helium as co-substrates to further activate the process. This combination at elevated temperatures is the basis for the creation of basic semiconductor materials.

 

Oxygen in its highest purity can be used in the neutralization of waste gases by oxidant reactions. A stream of oxygen through abatement equipment is used to purge reactive by-products that might later impact the quality of semiconductor components.

 

For more detailed insights into the use of Oxygen and Nitrogen for industrial purposes, please contact us for more information.


For manufacturers of semiconductors, a reliable and quality source of gases is essential for their day-to-day performance, and the overall quality of their finished products. At Pro Gases, we provide manufacturers with a regular supply of quality gas at a competitive price. 

Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Argon, Hydrogen, Helium and Acetylene.

 

The industrial gases that are relied upon in some of the most critical industries around the world, such as Healthcare, Agriculture, Food Production, Oil & Gas, Electronics and Steel Manufacturing.

 

Without gases, these critical industries would be unable to perform their day to day operations. Shortages of gas and gas quality issues can cause massive disruption which can be felt across society – for example, the recent CO2 shortage in the UK which impacted food packaging production, COVID-19 vaccine transportation, and livestock slaughtering. 

 

Here we share some of the industries that rely upon industrial gases, and how they use gases.

 

Healthcare Industry

Oxygen, CO2, Nitrogen and Nitrous Oxide are used in Healthcare as a critical part in supporting the treatment and care of patients.

 

Oxygen: The most widely used industrial gases in healthcare. Used to aid breathing in the event of respiratory difficulties, and as a main component of medical air. This air provides extremely sensitive respiratory systems with a pure, sterile source of air for respiratory therapy and humidification treatments.

 

CO2: Used extensively in surgeries like laparoscopy, arthroscopy, endoscopy, and cryotherapy. It can also be used to diagnose chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, COPD, and others.

 

Medical Liquid Nitrogen: Commonly used to remove some cancers and skin lesions. The pharmaceutical industry uses this gas in the manufacture of medications.

 

Nitrous Oxide: Used in numerous surgical procedures as both an aesthetic and pain reliever.

 

Electronics Manufacturing

Oxygen and Nitrogen are the core industrial gases used during the manufacturing process of electronics, that enables the $450 billion industry to produce televisions, computers, semiconductors, and integrated circuits.

Nitrogen: The most used gas in electronics, and particularly for semiconductor manufacturing. A key part of manufacturing electronics because it displaces oxygen in the soldering (joining metals together) process. If oxygen interacts with a solder, it can compromise its integrity. Nitrogen is placed over the circuit board eliminating the presence of oxygen and thus ensuring that a strong solder is made.

 

Oxygen: Used for the oxidation of silicon, a critical process in the manufacturing of semiconductors.

 

Steel Manufacturing

Oxygen, Acetylene and Argon are fundamental to core processes used in steel manufacturing, especially for industries such as automotive, construction and defence.

Oxygen: Playing a very important role in the steel making process, as it is a primary raw material for making steel. It is used in the basic oxygen process and the electric arc furnace.

 

Argon: Used in conjunction with oxygen in a common technology for refining stainless steel.

 

Acetylene: Used for welding and metal cutting as it can produce a flame temperature of 5,700° Fahrenheit.

 

Agriculture

CO2 is used to help boost plant growth and to control pests while supporting organise agriculture. 

 

CO2: Used in the greenhouse to allow crops to meet their photosynthesis potential. CO2 is also used to increase the soil’s organic matter content to aid plant growth, increase the total carbon content, and improve soil water retention capability.

 

Food Production

CO2 is primarily used in food packaging and as a method of stunning animals prior to slaughter.

 

CO2: Used by being injected into the packaging of perishables foods such as meat and salads to inhibit the growth of bacteria. This helps prolong the shelf life of products. CO2 is also used to create dry ice, which is used to keep food fresh for storage and transport.

 

Industrial gases are used in industries that impact our everyday life. Without a constant and reliable source of quality gases, shortages would occur in industries that we rely upon, that provide us with medical care, food and life-saving technologies.