Ilmanerottelulla

Ilmanerottelulla, also known as "air separation," is a process used to separate the components of air, primarily nitrogen and oxygen, into their individual gases. This process is crucial in various industries, including chemical manufacturing, steel production, and medical applications. The most common method of air separation is cryogenic distillation, which involves cooling air to extremely low temperatures, causing the different gases to condense at different points. Nitrogen, with a lower boiling point, condenses first and is collected as a liquid, while oxygen, with a higher boiling point, remains in a gaseous state. This liquid nitrogen is then evaporated and stored for use, while the remaining oxygen is also collected and stored. Other methods of air separation include pressure swing adsorption and membrane separation, which are less common due to their higher energy requirements and lower efficiency. Air separation is an essential process in modern industry, enabling the production of high-purity gases for a wide range of applications.