Can you buy nitrogen and if so how much does it cost?

Answer 1

Yes, you can buy nitrogen. It is generally available as a compressed gas in those heavy steel cylinders, or it can be purchased as a refrigerated liquid - a cryogen. You'll need a way to convice a gas or air products vendor that you need the product to be able to buy it. The gas is used by welding companies, hospital and medical facilities and by many others as a source of dry, fairly inert gas to form a barrier in welding, or to displace air in containers or in piping or the like. The liquid is a "bulk" way to buy it. Industrial and food packaging compaines use it by the ton. You know those bags of potato chips at the store? Their shelf life is extended dramatically by using nitrogen to flush and fill the bag before it is sealed. (It displaces the oxygen, which speeds spoilage.) Costs of this material will vary depending on quantity (there are several different sizes of bottles for this and other compressed gases), and on form (gas or liquid). The liquid is a few bucks a pound run into your dewar. It's around a buck a pound in bulk pumped from a tanker. The gas is under a hundred bucks with a cylinder exchange. Nitrogen prices have recently taken a jump, and energy costs are a large reason for it.

Answer 2

Yes, nitrogen can be purchased in various forms such as liquid nitrogen or nitrogen gas. The cost depends on the quantity and purity needed, but typically ranges from a few dollars to several hundred dollars per cylinder or tank. It is often used in industrial applications, food processing, and scientific research.