Nitrogen and oxygen gases play an increasingly vital role across pharmaceutical production due to their unique chemical properties.
Oxygen is used to enrich ambient air during fermentation processes, chemical synthesis, wastewater treatment, and for the final sealing of glass ampoules. Nitrogen, due to its inert nature, is ideal for pharmaceutical environments that demand precision and contamination control.
Nitrogen applications in pharmaceuticals
- Leak testing and pressure control in critical systems such as reactors, pipelines, and flexible hoses.
- Purging of volatile gases, enhancing process safety and consistency.
- Modified atmosphere packaging, where nitrogen acts as a protective gas, preventing oxidation and extending shelf life.
- Cryogenic cooling and freezing, particularly using liquid nitrogen for sample preservation and biotech production.
- Controlled transport environments using nitrogen-cooled, thermally insulated containers to maintain product integrity during distribution.
- Lyophilisation and dry storage of biologics, bacterial cultures, and powder-based formulations.
- Deoxygenating packaging of pharmaceutical products, preserving active ingredients by displacing oxygen.
Packaging of pharmaceutical products
Inert gas packaging is a well-established process in the pharmaceutical sector. It involves using precise mixtures of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen — typically at temperatures around −4°C — to preserve the original properties of the product, prevent microbial growth, and maintain colour stability.
Nitrogen serves as a displacement gas, removing oxygen from the packaging. Due to its poor solubility in fats and water, and its chemically neutral properties, nitrogen helps inhibit unwanted reactions and microbiological degradation. Raising nitrogen concentration balances the internal gas pressure, helping maintain an ideal storage atmosphere.
Oxygen plays a dual role in packaging: while it may accelerate spoilage and oxidation, it also helps retain some natural characteristics of the product. In optimised blends, this balance is used to maximise product preservation.
The use of nitrogen and oxygen in vacuum-sealed packaging helps suppress microbial activity, stabilise the product environment, and preserve the pharmaceutical’s original properties for extended periods.
Oxygen use in pharmaceutical laboratories and manufacturing:
In addition to packaging and process functions, oxygen is used in chemical analysis — for example, in detecting phosphorus, sulphur, halogens, and similar elements in drug compounds. A sample is placed in a heat-resistant oxygen-filled flask, sealed with a platinum or nichrome wire fuse, and ignited. The resulting combustion products are collected and analysed to determine the compound’s composition using chemical or instrumental methods.
Generator-based supply vs bottled gases:
For small-scale operations, oxygen and nitrogen may be supplied in cylinders. However, for medium-to-large pharmaceutical facilities, this approach quickly becomes inefficient. Installing an on-site gas generation system is more economical and reliable in the long term.
At ONH Systems, our team of qualified specialists is ready to help you select the right oxygen and nitrogen generator to suit your technical requirements, budget, and operating conditions. Our systems ensure a stable, on-demand supply of pure gases, helping protect product integrity, prevent oxidation, and maintain the effectiveness of sensitive pharmaceutical compounds.
In this way, oxygen and nitrogen generators become indispensable tools for ensuring safety, consistency, and quality in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
