Can I use an oil-lubricated compressor to make Nitrox?
Keep in mind that with the single exception of partial pressure blending, every method of mixing Nitrox either boosts or compresses the oxygen enriched air mixture. It is an industry standard to use oil lubricated high-pressure compressors. If an oil-lubricated compressor is used for partial pressure blending, the compressed air must be filtered to a modified grade “E” standard. This is necessary to keep the condensed hydrocarbons introduced into the system downstream of the filters to a minimum. Keep in mind however that eventually the amount of hydrocarbons in the system will exceed the allowable standard and will require oxygen cleaning. The main problem with this is that it is difficult to know when the build up of hydrocarbons reach an unsafe level. With the membrane and continuous gas blending system (The Nitrox Stik) this is not an issue as the Nitrox mixture is kept at 40% or below prior to being compressed or boosted. Keep in mind that most dive shops that mix Nitrox use synth
