Difference Between Medical Oxygen and Industrial Oxygen

May 2023 · 3 minute read

The key difference between medical oxygen and industrial oxygen is that the medical oxygen is the form of oxygen gas that we use to maintain enough oxygen level in our blood whereas the industrial oxygen is the form of oxygen that we use in industrial applications.

Oxygen is essential for us to breathe. There is about 21% oxygen in our atmosphere. However, if we don’t have enough oxygen in our blood, our body does not function properly. Then we may have to get oxygen externally. Therefore, we call this oxygen as “medical oxygen”. We can make use of oxygen for industrial purposes as well. We call this form of oxygen as “industrial oxygen”.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Medical Oxygen
3. What is Industrial Oxygen
4. Side by Side Comparison – Medical Oxygen vs Industrial Oxygen in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Medical Oxygen?

Medical oxygen is the oxygen which we use to treat patients. We use it to maintain enough oxygen level in our blood. Oxygen therapy is the use of oxygen as a medical treatment. We can use it to treat low blood oxygen levels, carbon monoxide toxicity, cluster headaches, etc.

Difference Between Medical Oxygen and Industrial Oxygen

Figure 01: Inhalation of Oxygen

This oxygen provides a basis for virtually all modern anaesthetic techniques, restores tissue oxygen tension by increasing the oxygen availability, aids resuscitation, aids cardiovascular stability, etc. However, there are some side effects as well. Furthermore, high concentrations can cause toxicity.

What is Industrial Oxygen?

Industrial oxygen is the oxygen that we use for industrial purposes.

Key Difference Between Medical Oxygen and Industrial Oxygen

Figure 02: Oxygen for Industrial Use

Followings are the uses of oxygen in industry:

  • Multi-industry uses gas welding, gas cutting, oxygen scarfing, flame cleaning, flame straightening, etc.
  • Metals manufacturing uses: steel production
  • Petroleum industry: coal gasification, manufacture of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide,  synthesis gas, etc.
  • Glass and ceramics: conversion of air-fuel combustion systems into oxy-fuel combustion systems for high efficiency and reduction of NOx emissions.
  • Pulp and paper manufacturing: oxygen as a bleaching chemical.

    • What is the Difference Between Medical Oxygen and Industrial Oxygen?

    Medical oxygen is the oxygen that we use to treat patients. We use oxygen to maintain enough oxygen level in our blood. Industrial oxygen is the oxygen which we use for industrial purposes. We use oxygen in industries mainly for combustion and gasification processes.

    Difference Between Medical Oxygen and Industrial Oxygen in Tabular Form

    Summary – Medical Oxygen vs Industrial Oxygen

    Oxygen is an essential compound for all of us. We can categorise it as medical oxygen and industrial oxygen according to the applications. The difference between medical oxygen and industrial oxygen is that medical oxygen is the form of oxygen gas that we use to maintain enough oxygen level in our blood whereas the industrial oxygen is the form of oxygen that we use in industrial applications.

    Reference:

    1. “Oxygen Therapy.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 July 2018. Available here  
    2. “Oxygen (O2) Properties, Uses and Applications Oxygen Gas and Liquid Oxygen.” Universal Industrial Gases, Inc. … CO2 Quantity Units Converter. Available here   

    Image Courtesy:

    1.’Cpapanwender’By Michael Symonds – Eigenanfertigung, (CC BY-SA 2.0 de) via Commons Wikimedia 
    2.’Compressed gas cylinders.mapp and oxygen.triddle’ By Triddle – Own work, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia 

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