Lecturer at the Department of Chemical Engineering UGM, Prof. Panut Mulyono, explained that oxygen is an important component in the synthesis of chemical substances such as ammonia, alcohol and types of plastic materials. Oxygen and acetylene are also used in welding and metal cutting.
"Because it can produce very high temperatures. Rocket fuel can be from liquid oxygen with temperatures below 183 degrees Celsius," said the Chancellor of UGM.
The UGM energy expert reminded that producing oxygen is not easy, especially on a home production scale. This is quite unfounded because the principle production of oxygen is by separating the oxygen in the air from other substances, namely nitrogen and argon.
Air consists of 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen and 1 percent argon. Method of separation by cryogenic distillation or Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA). Cryogenic distillation principally compresses and cools air, so it becomes liquid.
Then, oxygen, nitrogen and argon are separated by distillation. The purity of oxygen produced from this cryogenic distillation is more than 99 percent. Small-scale production suitable for PSA with the principle of compressed air passing through a vessel filled with snaring material.
For example, zeolite or activated carbon. Nitrogen is trapped or trapped into the pores of the filling material but the oxygen escapes (is not entangled), so that the gas that leaves the vessel is oxygen with a purity of 90-93 percent.
If the fill material is saturated with nitrogen, the operation is stopped and with a decrease in the pressure of the vessel, the nitrogen comes out of the pores of the fill material. Thus, it can be streamed elsewhere or disposed of.
In order for the device to work continuously to produce oxygen, at least two vessels filled with entrapment material are installed in the device which work alternately. The portable oxygen concentrators sold in the market generally work with PSA.
Another way of oxygen production is by electrolysis of water which produces pure oxygen and pure hydrogen. Oxygen exits from the anode (+) side and hydrogen exits from the cathode (-) side. However, this method requires a large amount of electrical energy.
"Another alternative is to produce oxygen with levels of around 95 percent by separating the nitrogen using a membrane," said Panut.
UGM itself is trying to partner with alumni who work in the chemical industry. Of which, there are oxygen production units such as synthetic fertilizers and methanol. But, it's not easy because there are many hospitals that need oxygen, it needs national distribution.
"I think the doctors at the hospital have implemented the standards for using oxygen properly for patients. What can be done is to optimize the production capacity of the production units they have, so that they reach 100 percent installed capacity," Panut said.
Panut added, the large number of patients who were not accommodated in standard hospital care, the need for oxygen cylinders that could be shifted according to the patient's position was also a problem. Therefore, the procurement of oxygen cylinders should be attempted as soon as possible.
Lack of oxygen supply
The scarcity of oxygen supply occurs as the number of covid patients increases. One possible step to address the scarcity of oxygen supply, especially in hospitals, is by optimizing the capacity of domestic production units.
He said currently only operating 74 percent of installed capacity. So, about 72 percent of existing products are used for industrial purposes and only 28 percent for medical needs.
"However, the huge increase in oxygen demand due to the surge in Covid patients in the country, receiving oxygen assistance from friendly countries and importing oxygen is a necessity to save many patients," said Panut, Thursday (15/7).
He said, in fact there is no problem with the normal supply of oxygen in the country at this time. Besides being used by various health facilities such as hospitals, oxygen is also widely used in blast furnaces for steel making.
References:
https://www.republika.co.id
https://wigatos.com/20189-cara-mengisi-tabung-oksigen/
https://wigatos.com/20222-cara-menghidupkan-layar-hp-oppo-dengan-ketukan/
