Co2 shortage

Where does co2 come from or how is it made. Why is there a shortage. Asda had a shortage once and we couldn't get our balloons filled up.

I heard something on the radio at the weekend to the effect that most CO2 is a by-product of the fertilizer industry. Fewer fertilizers are made at this time of year as there is little demand from growers during summer.
If, like now, there is a spell of warm weather then lager, cola etc production is ramped up, utilising all the available gas.
Who knew?

ethelbags1.... you couldn't get some balloons filled up. That's hilarious!

I think the drinks are usually fizzy not fuzzy!

Etheltbags
I was hoping that some of our science minded Grans could give a simplified explanation.
My knowledge is very basic
Co2 is present in our atmosphere.
I believe ( from school) Plants and trees absorb co2 and give off oxygen this in turn helps with pollution.

I think it could was probably helium for your balloon.

Thank you scribbles.
Who knew indeed.

Until it effects Prosecco/Champagne I shall not worry. As I do not drink any other 'fizzy drinks' I guess Husband has his beer fridge full.

I assume that hospitals have a plan b.

I saw on BBC breakfast this morning , this also effecting the food industry as to making bread , they showed Warburton's Dudley factory unable to make crumpets it as also effected another plant of there's.
To add beer wise straight from the cask is best , also it works well for what is known as key keg , fizzy real ale which does not require CO2 to put it through.
Mick

Apparently only 2 manufacturers of CO2 who have not been communicating. All my management training taught me that lack of communications is a sure way to fail. Lets hope the prosecco holds out.

The news item I heard yesterday was that a factory in Newcastle (?) had re-started production and was distributing the gas.
Was that 'fake news'?

He he I knew c02 was made by trees and green plants at night but was unaware that it was comercially made until they said there was a shortage. My balloons were filled with somehhing or other and i thought that drinks were made by natural fermentation. You live and learn

They have drafted in 100 senior citizens from a nursing home next door to the factory and are feeding them on baked beans and cabbage.

Elegran

On the other hand, that would give you methane, wouldn't it? Don't think I fancy that in my crumpets and beer...

Elegran
I was kinda hoping a science gran would help me out!

A spokesman for the factory said that production would be commenced as soon as the piping had been installed between dormitories and the factory floor, and the senior citizens had completed their training in its use. The main problems they faced were the random nature of the natural gas production in the nursing home, and that the donors didn't wake up to direct it into the proper channels..

When It wouldn't be all methane. It is more likely to be sulphur dioxide (rotten egg smell) In fact "Most of the gas expelled by our intestines is carbon dioxide, or other gases with no scent. So, a hearty amount of smell-free farts is healthy and normal" That is from www.bustle.com/articles/60833-why-do-some-farts-smell-like-eggs-5-different-types-of-flatulence-decoded-for-your-reading which has a lot more on the subject.

They have drafted in 100 senior citizens from a nursing home next door to the factory and are feeding them on baked beans and cabbage.
Priceless thanks Elegran

Carbon dioxide is an inorganic compound, comprising one of carbon, two of oxygen. It is found in the atmosphere in very small amounts and an increase could be responsible for global warming (from fossil fuels and farting animals etc). It is soluble in water. It is odourless.
Used in the food industry to provide the bubbles in carbonated drinks - however, doesn't prosecco produce its own fizz in the bottle?
'Dry ice' (solid state CO2) is used in wine production though, so be very worried.

It has a lot of other uses in food production, refrigerators etc. and it is also used to keep food cool during transport.

Apparently used in the production of crumpets, so, if you are fond of a buttered crumpet, be very concerned!

Carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants and during photosynthesis they produce oxygen that is why trees are sometimes known as 'the lungs of the Earth'.

I have no idea why there is a shortage - just bad organisation?

So, what turns the selected wines into sparkling wines? The sparkling wine is only formed during the secondary fermentation process. To bring the Cuvée to this crucial secondary fermentation process after its period of rest, it receives a so-called “tirage liqueur” – a precisely measured amount of wine with dissolved granulated sugar and a special addition of cultivated yeasts. The secondary fermentation process takes place in a pressure-tight container, from which the carbonic acid that is being formed cannot escape. During this process, our wine actually becomes sparkling wine – finally! At a pressure of 6 bar, the yeast cells stop working but the sparkling wine must now rest for at least another six months. Therefore, we still have to have a little bit of patience until the delicate flavours have completely developed. In any case, the characteristic bubbles are only formed upon opening the bottle – released from the pressure, the carbonic acid forms bubbles that slowly rise to the top of the glass.

Co2 is a by product of fertiliser manufacturing, most is made abroad and the factories close down for a few weeks each summer to do maintenance. For some reason they have all closed at the same time this year causing problems.

My son went to the pub last night and said that lager was unavailable in most places, beer was running low, and fizzy drinks on tap were hit and miss, some places had it others not.

Trouble is, IMO, it’s going to have a knock on effect in so many other ways, warburtons have cut crumpets by half, so shops are bound to put the price up, its used to store meat and fresh veg, so that will go up, still drinks will be in demand, and so it goes on.

Even the slaughter of animals is effected, because to sedate them with co2 first !.

It should only be for a short time, but the knock on effect is silly. As my son said, the village pub will be out of all fizzy drinks by mid week, how will they manage to survive?.

All because we rely on the foreign manufacture of co2 , and they haven’t communicated with each other to cover the closures.

Must be men who run these places, it would never happen if a woman was in charge

Elegran

CO2 shortage starts to bite:

Wholesaler Booker is rationing beer and cider because of a shortage of CO2 used in carbonated drinks – the retailer is limiting customers to ten cases of beer, and five of cider or soft drinks. Booker said in a statement: “Due to the international shortage of CO2, we are experiencing some supply issues on soft drinks and beer. We are currently working hard with our suppliers to minimise the impact for our customers and cannot comment further at this stage.” CO2 producers in the UK and mainland Europe have scaled back operations for maintenance, causing a shortage of the gas, whose many uses include improving the shelf life of packaged food and creating dry ice to keep products cool during transport. Heineken said its John Smith’s Extra Smooth and Amstel brands had been hit, while Coca-Cola Great Britain said production had been interrupted until fresh CO2 supplies arrived. “We are currently responding to an industry-wide issue that is impacting the supply of CO2 in the UK. Our focus is on limiting the effect this may have on the availability of our products,” Coca-Cola said. Small UK bottling firms have also been hit. In the West Midlands, Holden’s, which has 80 customers, shut down last Friday until further notice. “I’m left with people sitting around doing nothing,” said operations director Mark Hammond.

I’d hope the available CO2 would be used to stun pigs and chicken before having their throats cut, rather than on completely unnecessary carbonated drinks.
Drink water.

It is not until a service or a manufacture of something we take completely for granted such as CO2 becomes scarce or ceases to be that we are reminded that the ease of our daily life depends on so much.

The hospitals and abattoirs should take priority over fizzy drinks.
However the fizzy drink industry does provide jobs and pubs are already struggling.