# Oxygen: Feedstocks

The feedstock is free, the electricity is not

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/feedstocks/

What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.

The feedstock is free air. The real input is electricity, which is 50-70% of the cash cost of oxygen from an ASU (indicative). A producer with cheap, steady power and a large anchor customer has the lowest cost. Capital charge on the ASU is most of the rest, which is why tonnage oxygen is sold under long take-or-pay contracts.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Air** | about 4.3 t of air per t O2 (basis: 23.1% O2 by mass) | oxygen source | zero | air composition |
| **Electricity** | about 200-300 kWh per t gaseous O2; 600-1,000 kWh per t liquid (indicative) | air compression and liquefaction | about 50-70% of cash cost (indicative) | indicative |
| [Zeo Zeolites](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/zeolites/) | small, replaced every few years | air purification and PSA beds | under 2% (indicative) | indicative |

#### Who is low-cost, and why

Low cost goes to large on-site plants with cheap power: Middle East and China. In India, contract oxygen was about 8.1 US cents per Nm3 (about $57/t) in May 2023 against cash costs of 3.5-4.0 cents (Intratec). Liquid and cylinder oxygen sell at several times the pipeline price because of liquefaction and distribution.

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [EO Ethylene oxide](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/ethylene_oxide/) | oxygen-based direct oxidation |
| [TiO2 Titanium dioxide](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/titanium_dioxide/) | chloride process burns TiCl4 in oxygen |
| [H2 Hydrogen](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/) | coal gasification and ATR need oxygen |
| [MeOH Methanol](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/) | coal gasification and ATR syngas |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/links/index.md)