Oxylite

Oxylite is a solid oxygen source that sublimates into Oxygen when exposed to the environment. It is especially useful in the early game as a temporary fix for oxygen shortages, letting a new colony breathe while a more permanent oxygen production setup is built. Because it steadily disappears over time, it is best treated as a short-term reserve rather than a full replacement for an oxygen system.

In naturally occurring form, Oxylite can still be found in some parts of the world where conditions have kept it inert and prevented it from decaying. This makes it useful for opening up new areas before plumbing or power-heavy life support is available. In the late game, it also has a role as an oxidizer for the Solid Fuel Thruster, Petroleum Engine, and Hydrogen Engine. In the DLC, it can be placed in rockets so it continues to sublimate and sustain oxygen supply on longer trips.

Oxylite can also be produced through the Oxylite Refinery, which converts Oxygen and Gold into Oxylite at a 1:1 mass ratio for the oxygen input: 600 g/s Oxygen + 3 g/s Gold = 600 g/s Oxylite. The refinery draws 1.2 kW regardless of how much oxygen is supplied, so it does not become cheaper when underfed. Its output is dumped directly onto the ground in front of the building, which causes it to begin sublimating almost immediately. A shallow liquid pool in front of the refinery, with a deeper recess for a Storage Bin, is a practical way to reduce waste and keep the produced Oxylite from being lost to the air.

Puft Princes and Dense Pufts can breathe Oxygen and excrete Oxylite, making them another source of the material. Oxylite is also usable as bait in Airborne Critter Bait to attract those critters.

A few practical points matter when handling it:

• Oxylite is best used where immediate oxygen is needed, such as early exploration or emergency life support.
• Since it sublimates, storage and transport should minimize exposure to open air.
• The refinery’s output management is important; otherwise much of the product is lost on the floor.
• As a rocket oxidizer, Oxylite is one of the convenient late-game uses for surplus material.

Its behavior is broadly similar to perchlorate compounds, which decompose into oxygen and chloride compounds when heated and are also used as oxidizers in solid rocket fuel.