Dry ice supply · Oklahoma City, OK
Dry ice supply & delivery in Oklahoma City
Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide, the same gas that puts the fizz in soda, chilled until it turns solid. It's −109.3°F, and instead of melting into water it turns straight into gas. Apex Dry Ice delivers fresh 3mm and 16mm dry ice across central, south and west Oklahoma within 24 hours, in orders from 500 to 10,000 lb.
By the Apex Dry Ice team · Updated November 2026
01 / In plain English
What is dry ice?
Dry ice is carbon dioxide, a gas that's all around us, cooled down so much that it becomes a solid. It's far colder than the ice in your freezer: −109.3°F.
The "dry" part is what makes it special. Regular ice melts into a puddle. Dry ice skips the puddle entirely and turns straight back into gas. So it keeps things frozen without getting anything wet, and when it's gone, there's nothing left to clean up.
Colder than water ice
At −109.3°F, it keeps food and samples deeply frozen, not just chilled.
Never gets wet
No melting means no soggy boxes, no water damage and no drips.
Leaves nothing behind
It simply turns into gas, so there's no residue to dispose of.
02 / Our products
Which dry ice size do I need?
We produce two sizes. The right one depends on whether you're blasting, shipping or storing.
3mm “Rice” pellets
Small, dense pellets about the size of a grain of rice. Built for dry ice blasting, where many small, hard pellets give even coverage and consistent cleaning power.
- ▸Dry ice blasting and industrial cleaning
- ▸Fast, even cooling where quick contact matters
16mm “Nuggets”
Larger pieces with less surface area for their weight, so they sublimate more slowly and last longer in storage and transit.
- ▸Food chilling and frozen storage
- ▸Biological and pharmaceutical cold chain
- ▸Shipping perishables and samples
| Size | Best for | Sublimation rate | Typical customers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3mm Rice | Dry ice blasting | Faster (more surface area) | Blasting contractors, industrial cleaning crews |
| 16mm Nuggets | Food and bio storage, shipping | Slower (less surface area) | Food processors, labs, cold-chain shippers |
03 / The Apex difference
Why does fresh dry ice matter?
Dry ice starts disappearing the moment it's made. Even in a good insulated container, it's constantly turning into gas, and small pellets do it faster than large pieces. Ice that has spent days in transit or storage arrives lighter than it started, and blasting pellets can soften, shrink and clump together.
Because our ice is produced in Oklahoma, we can deliver it within 24 hours instead of trucking it in from hours away on a multi-day lead time. That means you get more of the weight you paid for, blasting pellets arrive dense and free-flowing, and you can order on short notice, from 500 to 10,000 lb.
24 HR
Delivery across central, south and west Oklahoma.
500–10K LB
Orders filled on short notice, one-time or recurring.
Made in OK
Local production means fresher, denser ice on arrival.
04 / Applications
Who uses dry ice?
Dry ice blasting contractors
Fresh 3mm pellets with 24-hour delivery, so crews stop waiting days on supply and stop paying for ice that sublimated in transit.
Food & beverage processors
Beverage-grade nuggets for chilling product, holding frozen goods and keeping cold chain intact during transport.
Bio & pharmaceutical
Steady −109.3°F temperatures for shipping and storing samples, reagents and temperature-sensitive materials.
Restoration & industrial
Supply for fire, smoke and flood restoration crews and for in-house maintenance teams that run their own blasters.
05 / Storage & handling
How do you store and handle dry ice safely?
Do
- ▸Wear insulated gloves and eye protection when handling it
- ▸Store it in an insulated container that is not airtight
- ▸Keep storage and vehicles ventilated
- ▸Keep it away from children and pets
- ▸Order close to when you need it, since it sublimates over time
Don't
- ▸Touch it with bare skin; it can cause frostbite in seconds
- ▸Seal it in an airtight container; gas pressure can cause it to burst
- ▸Store it in small, unventilated rooms, walk-ins or closed vehicle cabs
- ▸Eat it, swallow it or put it in drinks
- ▸Store it in a refrigerator or freezer, where the cold can shut off the thermostat
06 / In depth
The science of dry ice
Dry ice is the solid phase of carbon dioxide. Its usefulness comes from three properties: it is extremely cold, it absorbs a large amount of heat as it changes state, and it has no liquid phase at normal atmospheric pressure.
| Property | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical formula | CO₂ (molar mass 44.01 g/mol) | One carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms |
| Sublimation point | −78.5°C (−109.3°F) at 1 atm | Turns directly from solid to gas at normal pressure |
| Triple point | −56.6°C at about 5.2 bar (75 psi) | Liquid CO₂ can only exist above this pressure, so dry ice never melts in open air |
| Latent heat of sublimation | About 571 kJ/kg (about 246 BTU/lb) | Roughly 1.7 times the heat water ice absorbs when it melts, per pound |
| Solid density | About 1.4–1.6 g/cm³ | Denser than water ice, so more cooling packs into less space |
| Gas expansion | About 750–850× the solid volume | Why it must never be sealed airtight, and part of how blasting lifts contaminants |
| Gas density | About 1.5× the density of air | CO₂ sinks and can collect in low or enclosed areas |
| Hardness | About 1–3 on the Mohs scale | Soft enough to clean surfaces without abrading them |
| Electrical conductivity | Non-conductive | Safe to use around de-energized electrical equipment |
How dry ice is made
Most commercial CO₂ is captured as a byproduct of industrial processes such as ammonia and ethanol production, then purified and stored as a liquid under pressure. When that liquid is released to atmospheric pressure, part of it flash-freezes into CO₂ "snow" while the rest turns to gas. The snow is compressed in a hydraulic press and extruded through a die plate, and the size of the die holes sets the pellet diameter: 3mm for blasting, 16mm for nuggets.
Why it sublimates
At atmospheric pressure, carbon dioxide is below its triple-point pressure, so the solid has no liquid state to pass through. Heat from the surroundings breaks the weak bonds between CO₂ molecules and they escape directly as gas. The rate depends on surface area, temperature difference and insulation, which is why small pellets disappear faster than nuggets and why insulated, vented containers extend shelf life.
Safety science and regulations
Carbon dioxide displaces oxygen when it builds up in a confined space. OSHA's permissible exposure limit for CO₂ is 5,000 ppm averaged over an 8-hour shift, and NIOSH considers 40,000 ppm immediately dangerous to life or health. Symptoms of overexposure include headache, dizziness, rapid breathing and confusion. Because CO₂ is heavier than air, it collects near the floor and in low spaces, so ventilation matters most there. Dry ice is regulated for transport as a Class 9 hazardous material under UN 1845, with specific labeling and quantity rules when it ships by air.
Frequently asked questions
Dry ice FAQs
What is dry ice?
Dry ice is carbon dioxide (CO₂) frozen into a solid. It is −109.3°F (−78.5°C), and instead of melting into a liquid it turns directly into gas, a process called sublimation. That is why it leaves no water or residue behind.
Where can I buy dry ice in bulk in Oklahoma City?
Apex Dry Ice sells and delivers bulk dry ice in Oklahoma City and across central, south and west Oklahoma. We fill orders from 500 to 10,000 lb on short notice and deliver within 24 hours.
What is the difference between 3mm and 16mm dry ice?
3mm dry ice pellets, sometimes called rice, are small and dense and are made for dry ice blasting. 16mm nuggets are larger, have less surface area for their weight and sublimate more slowly, which makes them better for food chilling, shipping and cold storage.
How long does dry ice last?
Dry ice is always sublimating, so how long it lasts depends on the amount, the pellet size, the container and the surrounding temperature. A larger quantity in a well-insulated container lasts longer, and nuggets last longer than small pellets. This is why fresh, locally made ice matters.
Is your dry ice food grade?
Yes. Apex Dry Ice supplies beverage-grade dry ice that is suitable for food chilling and storage. Dry ice should never be eaten or swallowed, and it should not be placed directly in drinks that will be consumed.
Is dry ice dangerous?
Dry ice is safe when handled properly. It can cause frostbite on bare skin, so wear insulated gloves. As it sublimates it releases CO₂, which can build up in enclosed spaces, so store and transport it with ventilation. Never seal dry ice in an airtight container, because the gas pressure can cause it to rupture.
How much dry ice do I need?
It depends on what you are cooling, for how long, the container and the temperature outside it. Tell us your application and we will help you size the order, from 500 lb up to 10,000 lb.
Where does Apex Dry Ice get its dry ice?
Our dry ice is produced in Oklahoma, which lets us deliver it fresh within 24 hours instead of trucking it in from hours away. Fresher ice means you receive more of the weight you paid for.
Order fresh dry ice.
Tell us the size, quantity and delivery location. We fill 500 to 10,000 lb orders on short notice with delivery within 24 hours.
Apex Dry Ice11628 N I-35 Service Rd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73131