Degases

Degases refers to processes and equipment used to remove dissolved gases from liquids or to reduce gas content in materials. The term is used in laboratory and industrial contexts, where degassing improves product stability, measurement accuracy, and process performance.

The primary methods include vacuum degassing, where the liquid is heated under reduced pressure to encourage gas release; sparging or gas-stripping, in which an inert gas such as nitrogen is bubbled through the liquid; membrane degassing using gas-permeable membranes; and centrifugal or ultrasonic approaches that promote gas removal. Temperature and pressure influence gas solubility and degassing rates, and degassed streams are often recirculated to ensure uniform treatment.

Applications span beverage production (removing CO2 or unwanted aromas), water treatment and oil refining, semiconductor and pharmaceutical manufacturing (degassing solvents and process streams), polymer processing (preventing voids from trapped gas), and nuclear or chemical processing where precise gas control improves safety and performance. In each case, the goal is to reduce dissolved gas content to targeted levels or to prevent off-gassing during subsequent processing steps.

Equipment and metrics are central to degases. Common devices include vacuum degassers, sparging columns, membrane modules, and inline degassing units. Key performance indicators include the degassing rate, residual dissolved gas concentration (typically measured in ppm or mg/L), and operating temperature and pressure. Material compatibility and contamination-control practices are essential to prevent reintroduction of gases or impurities.

See also: degassing, degasser, dissolved gas.