Food gases have also become valuable allies in the beverage industry. Beverage companies are increasingly relying on the use of gases such as nitrogen to achieve higher quality, more environmentally friendly products and more efficient processes.
In this in-depth article, we will explore 3 good reasons why nitrogen has become one of the key elements in the beverage industry, highlighting its characteristics, benefits and uses.
Nitrogen gas what is it? Formula, density, characteristics
Nitrogen is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas, its chemical formula N₂.
Where is nitrogen obtained? Nitrogen is in the air we breathe; in fact, it constitutes about 78 percent of the earth’s atmosphere, we take it in various foods, especially beef and pork, fish, eggs, dairy products and legumes, and it is present, therefore, also in our bodies as an essential element for the life of human beings, as well as animals and plants.
It is often used in industry, especially in gaseous and liquid form, for its characteristics:
- It’s not toxic.
- It is not flammable
- It is slightly soluble
- It is a poor conductor of heat and electricity
- It’s inert.
In particular, nitrogen as an inert gas does not react with other gases or liquids, so it can be fed into the production cycle of different products.
Temperature liquid and solid nitrogen
The temperature at which a gas can pass through is also dependent on the pressure.
Considered to be at atmospheric pressure, nitrogen becomes liquid at a temperature of about -195 °C and solid at -210 °C.
What is gaseous and liquid nitrogen used for: use in the beverage industry
The question at this point is compelling: what is nitrogen in gas or liquid form for? Here we focus on the use in the beverage industry and on the process of producing and distributing beverages.
One of the most common applications is the use of gaseous nitrogen to replace the air inside storage tanks, eliminating volatile contaminants such as oxygen and allowing the achievement of high quality and purity. This operation can take place in different ways such as inerting, lunging and stripping and helps to prevent oxidation, to prolong the shelf life of the product enhancing its properties and taste.
Liquid food nitrogen is also used to reduce oxidative phenomena at the bottling stage, ensuring greater freshness and quality, and to increase pressure and reduce the thickness of PET bottles.
Just to name a few specific applications, we have nitrogen in water, juices and other beverages, nitrogen in wine, nitrogen in coffee and nitrogen in edible oil.
Learn more about all industrial applications and uses of nitrogen in beverage here.
Why use nitrogen in beverage: the 3 benefits
The use of nitrogen in beverage is a choice that brings tangible results on product quality and process efficiency: it offers the flexibility to be used at different stages of production, ensuring greater versatility and adaptability to the specific needs of each company, and given global competition, working on every little detail can really make a difference.
Thus, cascadingly, it allows greater customer loyalty and a positive impact on business results. Let’s see, then, the 3 main benefits brought by nitrogen in the beverage world.
Shelf life longer
Nitrogen allows you to control the oxygen levels inside the bottles or containers. By reducing the oxygen present, the risks of product deterioration can be minimised.
This inevitably helps to ensure greater food security and better storage of beverages over time.
Enhancement of organoleptic qualities
Every sense wants its share in the consumption of beverages. The correct use of nitrogen enhances not only the taste, but also the sight, texture and odours.
For example, in the processing of coffee it enhances the aroma and protects the taste of the final product.
Efficiency of processes
Various processes can be speeded up with this gas: product protection, handling and transfer, cleaning.
All this leads to leaner production, lower costs, less energy use and, consequently, a lower environmental impact.
Production and distribution of liquid and gaseous nitrogen SIAD
How is nitrogen produced? In short, nitrogen is produced by the process of air fractionation, i.e. the industrial separation of the components of the atmosphere.
The SIAD Group has been engaged for nearly a century in the search for advanced and sustainable solutions for the production of the highest quality gas, the current air separation plants developed have reached an extreme level of efficiency, automation and control and are able to meet the renewed production requirements.
Distribution may take place by transport in cylinders, packets of cylinders or tanks.
But the Group does not limit itself to this, thanks to its decades of experience in the field, it assists companies with:
- Design and installation of gas distribution systems
- Technical assistance, training and advice for transport, distribution and application
Ultimately, choosing nitrogen as an integral part of the production process offers a number of advantages that cannot be ignored by companies trying to differentiate themselves in the beverage market.
If you want to learn more with SIAD specialists how to integrate products and systems into your company, we are at your disposal. Contact us for a consultation.
