Air separation is the process of separating gases from the surrounding air. There are various methods for air separation, including cryogenic distillation, pressure swing adsorption, and membrane separation. Each of these methods involves the separation of gases by their physical properties, such as boiling point or molecular size. Synonyms for air separation could include gas separation, gas purification, and gas processing. These terms are often used interchangeably and refer to similar processes of separating gases from the air or other sources. Air separation plays a critical role in various industries such as healthcare, energy production, and manufacturing, thereby aiding the efficient use of gaseous resources.