Which method is used for the large-scale production of oxygen in hospitals?

Fractional distillation is the primary method used for the large-scale production of oxygen in hospitals. This process involves cooling air to very low temperatures until it liquefies and then selectively boiling off various components at different temperatures. Oxygen, which makes up about 21% of the atmosphere, is separated from nitrogen and other gases based on its boiling point.

This method is efficient for generating high-purity oxygen suitable for medical use, ensuring that hospitals can meet the demand for oxygen therapy and other medical applications. Given the critical role of oxygen in patient care, fractional distillation provides a reliable source that can continuously supply high volumes of oxygen as needed.

Other methods, such as electrolysis, while viable for producing oxygen, are generally not utilized on a large scale in hospitals due to factors like cost and efficiency. Combustion does not produce oxygen; instead, it consumes oxygen for the process. Filtration is not applicable for producing gaseous oxygen from atmospheric air either, as it is meant for separating particles from fluids. Thus, fractional distillation stands out as the most effective and widely adopted method for oxygen production in the medical sector.