Integrated Annual Report 2024

This visual presents the use of different molecules (mainly industrial gases) across several key sectors.

Molecules shown:

• N₂ (Nitrogen)
• O₂ (Oxygen)
• Ar (Argon)
• Rare gases
• CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide)
• CO (Carbon monoxide)
• H₂ (Hydrogen)
• Biomethane
• Steam / Power

Sectors of application: Electronics

• Steel
• Refining
• Chemicals
• Healthcare
• Food and pharma
• Automotive and Fabrication
• Craftsmen and retail
• Materials and energy
• Technology and research
• Low-carbon mobility

Application sectors and examples of uses by molecule (with associated benefits):

Electronics

• N₂: Inerting, purging (Efficiencies, Safety)
• O₂: Oxidant (Efficiencies)
• Ar: Wafer manufacturing, Semiconductor processes (Efficiencies)

Rare gases: Etching (Efficiencies), Inerting (Safety)

• CO₂: Lithography, cleaning (Decarbonization and Environment)
• CO: Etching (Efficiencies)
• H₂: Deposition, Lithography (Efficiencies)

Steel

• N₂: Inerting (Efficiencies), purging (Safety)
• O₂: Melting, refining and direct reduced iron process (Efficiencies)
• Ar: Stainless steel production (Efficiencies)
• CO₂: Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (Decarbonization & Environment)
• H₂: Heat Treatment, Direct Reduced Iron process (Efficiencies)

Refining

• N₂: Inerting (Efficiencies), Purging (Safety)
• O₂: Oxygen enrichment, Desulfurization (Efficiencies, Decarbonization & Environment)

Rare gases: Leak detection (Safety)

• CO₂: Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (Efficiencies, Decarbonization & Environment)
• H₂: Desulfurization, sustainable fuels (Decarbonization & Environment)

Biomethane : Low-carbon energy source and feedstock (production of hydrogen and chemicals) (Decarbonization & Environment)

Steam / Power : Energy source (Efficiencies)

Chemicals

• N₂: Inerting, Feedstock (Efficiencies, Safety)
• O₂: Oxidation, water treatment (Efficiencies, Decarbonization & Environment)
• CO₂: Raw materials, Carbon capture, utilisation & storage, Reactant (Decarbonization & Environment)

Noble gases: Leak detection (Safety)

• CO₂: Raw materials, Carbon capture, use and storage, Reagent (Decarbonization & Environment)
• CO: Production of organic chemicals (Decarbonization & Environment)
• H₂: Reducing agent, Raw material, Low-carbon energy (Efficiencies)

Entrepreneurs et distributeurs

• N₂ : Inertage (Sécurité) O₂ : Soudage, coupage (Efficacité) Gaz rares : Soudage (Efficacités)

Steam /Power : Energy source (Efficiencies)

Healthcare

• O₂: Therapy (Health)

Food and pharma

• N₂: Freezing, food preservation, inerting (Efficiencies, Safety)
• O₂: Water treatment, aquaculture (Efficiencies, Decarbonization & Environment)

Ar: Inerting, food preservation (Safety)

• CO₂: Carbonation, processing, freezing (Efficiencies)
• H₂: Food processing (Efficiencies)

Automotive and Fabrication

• N₂: Heat treatment, welding, cutting (Efficiencies)
• O₂: Cutting, Electric battery manufacturing (Efficiencies)
• Ar: Welding, Heat treatment, Additive manufacturing (Efficiencies)

Rare gases: Welding (Efficiencies)

Materials and energy

• N₂: Inerting, extrusion, oil and gas recovery (Efficiency, Safety)
• O₂: Combustion, ozonation, mineral processing (Efficiency)
• Ar: Refining, atmosphere protection (Efficiency)

Materials and energy

Rare gases: Lighting, window insulation, optical fiber manufacturing (Efficiency gains)

Technology and research

• N₂: Analysis, purging (Efficiencies)
• O₂: Analysis (Efficiencies)
• Ar: Analysis (Efficiencies)
• CO₂: Dry ice, analysis (Efficiency, Health)

Rare gases: Analysis (Efficiency, Decarbonization and Environment)

• H₂: Analysis, Optical Fiber manufacturing (Efficiency gains)

Low-carbon Mobility

• Biomethane: Low-carbon fuel (Efficiencies, Decarbonization & Environment)