[Chemical Knowledge]：The nature, use, upstream and downstream raw materials, storage methods of krypton gas, how to read krypton gas

Krypton's properties

Krypton (Kr) is a rare gas that is located in Group 18 of the periodic table. It is a colorless, odorless, non-toxic gas with extremely low chemical reactivity. Krypton gas is gaseous at room temperature, but can be liquefied at low temperatures. It has a boiling point of -153.22°C and a melting point of -157.36°C. The density of krypton is relatively high, about 3.74g/L, heavier than air. Due to its inertness, krypton does not react with other chemicals, except under extreme conditions, such as under the action of strong electric fields or high-energy particles.

Krypton uses

Krypton is widely used and diverse, mainly in the following areas:

1. Lighting: Krypton is widely used in the field of lighting, especially in high-efficiency gas discharge lamps (such as fluorescent lamps and high-intensity discharge lamps). The high ionization energy of krypton makes it emit bright white light under high pressure, which is especially suitable for street lighting and photographic flash.

2. Laser technology: Krypton lasers have important applications in scientific research and medical fields. Krypton ion lasers can produce beams of various wavelengths and are widely used in spectroscopy, holography, and photodynamic therapy in dermatology.

3. Insulating material: Due to the low thermal conductivity of krypton, it is used as a filling gas in insulating glass windows to improve the thermal efficiency of the window and reduce energy loss.

4. Standard gas: Krypton is used as a standard gas to calibrate and test various gas detection equipment.

Krypton upstream and downstream raw materials

The production of krypton is closely related to its upstream and downstream raw materials:

1. Upstream raw materials: Krypton is mainly extracted from the air, and air separation is its main source. Through cryogenic air separation technology, liquid air is separated into nitrogen, oxygen and other rare gases (such as neon, argon, krypton, xenon). The content of krypton gas is very low, about 0.0001% of the air volume, so the separation of krypton gas from air requires complex and efficient separation equipment.

2. Downstream products: The main downstream products of krypton gas include high-intensity lighting equipment, krypton lasers, and gas filling insulating glass windows. Krypton is also used as a standard gas in scientific research and as a high-purity industrial gas.

Krypton gas storage method

The storage method of krypton gas needs to consider its physical characteristics and safety:

1. Gaseous storage: Under normal temperature and pressure, krypton gas is stored in a high-pressure steel cylinder in gaseous form. Cylinders must meet strict safety standards and be equipped with explosion-proof valves and pressure gauges to ensure safety during storage and transportation.

2. Liquid storage: At low temperatures, krypton gas can be liquefied and stored in a cryogenic dewar. The storage of liquid krypton gas requires the use of efficient low-temperature insulating materials to prevent the evaporation of liquefied gas due to temperature increases.

Krypton Safety and Environmental Impact

Although krypton itself is non-toxic, due to its high density and inertness, leakage of krypton gas may lead to a decrease in the oxygen concentration in the confined space, posing a risk of suffocation. Therefore, during the storage and use of krypton gas, good ventilation must be ensured and appropriate leak detection equipment must be provided.

From the environmental point of view, krypton has no obvious direct impact on the environment. It does not react with other components of the atmosphere and has no effect on the ozone layer or the greenhouse effect. The extraction and separation process of krypton gas requires a lot of energy, so it has an indirect impact on the environment.

Krypton Market Prospects

The market prospect of krypton gas is constantly changing with the development of technology and the expansion of application fields. With the growth of demand in industries such as lighting, lasers and insulating materials, the market demand for krypton is also gradually increasing. Especially in the field of energy-efficient technology and precision scientific research, the unique properties of krypton make it an indispensable resource.

Although the content of krypton in the earth's crust is very low, its wide application and expanding market demand make it an important industrial gas. In the future, with the emergence of new technologies and the expansion of application fields, the industrial chain of krypton will be further extended, bringing more opportunities and challenges to related industries.