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What is Desiccant?

 

 

A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that is used to induce or sustain a state of dryness (desiccation) in its vicinity; it is the opposite of a humectant. Commonly encountered pre-packaged desiccants are solids that absorb water. Desiccants for specialized purposes may be in forms other than solid, and may work through other principles, such as chemical bonding of water molecules. They are commonly encountered in foods to retain crispness. Industrially, desiccants are widely used to control the level of water in gas streams.

Silica Gel Desiccant Safe For Dietary Supplement

Why Use Desiccant?

 

The job of any desiccant is to adsorb and trap moisture. The ultimate goal of desiccant is to stop moisture from causing rust, mold, corrosion, fogging, or any other moisture related damage.

 

In technical industries, this means preventing corrosion from causing short circuits in commercial grade electronics as well as military or space technologies.

 

The food industry will use desiccants or oxygen absorbers (which are not technically desiccants) in packaging to prevent moisture from ruining sundries during shipping.

 

The pharmaceutical industry will include desiccants – usually oxygen absorbers but sometimes small silica gel packets – in some medicine bottles to inhibit mold growth and preserve medicines.

 

Additionally, desiccants and oxygen absorbers have many uses around the home. For example, oxygen absorbers may be used to increase the shelf life of many dry good. Desiccants may be used to protect stored items in boxes or containers, such as books, records, or photographs.

Main Common Types of Desiccants

 

2 Gram Indicator Silica Gel Desiccant Safe For Dietary Supplement

Silica Gel

Silica gel is a highly porous form of silica (silicon dioxide). It has a high specific surface area which provides it with superior water adsorption capabilities; make it an excellent drying agent. Moreover, silica gel can be easily regenerated. It only needs to be heated to a temperature of 120 °C (250 °F) for 1 to 2 hours. Many pharmaceutical companies use silica gel to protect their products from moisture contamination.

Effervescent Tablet Bottle With White Plastic Desiccant Silica Gel Canister

Molecular Sieve

A molecular sieve is a material made from microporous aluminosilicate materials—commonly zeolites. Its pores are of a uniform size and are similar to molecules in terms of size. This means it only adsorbs smaller molecules, leaving the larger ones out. Since they work at a microscopic level, the unit of measurement used to measure the size of molecular sieves is angstroms.

Food Packaging Indicator Silica Gel Absorbent Sachets 2G

Activated Alumina

A porous, solid form of aluminum oxide, activated alumina is also referred to as Al2O3, or simply alumina. Activated alumina is also a porous material with a high surface area, and one all existing moisture has been evacuated from the material; it can be used as a great desiccant with super absorption capabilities. In addition to being used as a commercial dehumidifier, activated alumina can also be used as a biomaterial and a fluoride adsorbent.

 

Some Desiccant comparisons

 

Types Pro Con
Molecular Sieve Molecular Sieve will not as readily desorb moisture back into packaging when temperatures rise as will Silica Gel or Clay. Molecular Sieve is comparatively expensive.
Silica Gel Silica Gel is predominantly non-corrosive and non-toxic in nature. In fact, some grades have received U.S. government approval for use in food and drug packaging, but not all. Silica Gel, though it outperforms clay, does not function well in extreme heat and environments with a low H20 concentration.
Montmorillonite Clay Clay will successfully regenerate at very low temperatures without substantial deterioration. It is inexpensive and highly effective within normal temperature and relative humidity ranges. Clay may readily desorb moisture back into the container as temperatures rise.
Calcium Oxide Calcium Oxide will adsorb a much greater amount of water vapor at a very low relative humidity compared to other desiccants. It is most effective where a low critical relative humidity is necessary, and where there is a high concentration of water vapor present. Calcium Oxide adsorbs moisture from the air very slowly and swells as it takes on more and more moisture.
Calcium Sulfate Calcium Sulfate is a general-purpose desiccant intended mainly for laboratory use. It is chemically stable, non-disintegrating, non-toxic, non-corrosive, and does not release its absorbed water when exposed to higher ambient temperatures. Calcium Sulfate has a low adsorption capacity, generally adsorbing only up to 10% of its weight in water.

 

Disposable Garderobe Moisture Absorber Desiccant Box

 

Benefits of Desiccants

●Reduce humidity and odor in luggage and travel shoes.
●Keep photos for a long time.
●Keep damp exercise equipment clean.
●Prevent stains on metal appliances.
●Help maintain the quality of diamonds and gemstones.
●Help maintain the camera.
●Preserve dry food.
●liminate the musty smell that occurs with documents/preserve old books/protect important documents.
●Maintain the quality of medicines or vitamins.

 

 

Main Applications of Desiccants

small space dehumidifier bags

Electronics

The functionality of electronic devices can become damaged due to moisture soaking in. Although the effects are not as dramatic as electric shocks or short circuits, they do impair the electronic appliance in subtle ways. So, using desiccants can sustain the functionality of electronic appliances and extend their durability.

Effervescent Tablet Bottle With White Plastic Desiccant Silica Gel Canister

Food

As the food items in stores and supermarkets wait to be purchased, several issues like mold growth, bacteria growth, and food waste need to be addressed. Using desiccants will maintain the quality and minimize losses.

Hanging Moisture Absorber Bag For Closet

Storing Chemicals

If certain chemicals come in contact with moisture, they can form compounds. Hence, non-reacting desiccants, like silica gel, should be used while storing chemicals to preserve them.

Fiber Card Desiccant For Food, Pharmaceutical Packaging Natural Plant

Shipping of Goods

Desiccants are commercial agents and play a significant role in the packaging process of shipping goods. Using desiccants can help you save money and ensure safe transportation of goods.

30g Silica Gel Desiccant Sachet Dryer Bag Composite Paper

Sailing

Anything you store aboard your boat, electronics or not, should be kept as dry as possible. Many pleasure boats stay docked a good deal of time, making it a relatively easy proposition to pack things up with some adsorbent to keep away the salt air.

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Tools

Whether the latest powered drill or a simple wood and metal hammer, moisture more simply just rusts metal and rots wood. To extend the useful life of your tools, get some enclosed storage for them, and get some desiccant to keep them dry.

Desiccant Storage and Warehousing Precautions

 

 

It is necessary to have a correct storage and warehousing standard:

 

●Keep the desiccant in a cool dry place, keep note of the fire, theft, pest, moisture and damage.

 

●Before reception and warehousing, the desiccant should be unloaded in a safe and civilized way.

 

●Pay attention to rats, termites, pests.

 

●If conditions permit, constant temperature and humidity control for warehousing is the best. Temperature and humidity requirements: temperature 25 ℃ ± 5 ℃, humidity 60% ± 5%.

 

●Under normal circumstances (non-constant temperature and humidity), we should pay more attention to moisture-proof. Avoid excessive moisture from the outside. Make sure the floor (ground) is dry and clean. Otherwise, the cartons are easy to get mildewed.

 

●When stacking the desiccant cartons, stack them into a neat, stable, straight line. Leave enough space, stay away from the walls, pillars. Distance should be at least larger than 0.3~0.5 meters.

 

Certificate

 

We had passed the ISO9001:2015, ISO14001:2015, BSCI, GMP and Walmart audits. Our products comply with RoHS certification and other certificates.

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Common Problems of Desiccant

 

Q: What is the desiccant used for?

A: Desiccants are used to keep goods dry in situations where excess moisture could cause damage, especially during transportation and storage. Consumer products like garments, shoes or consumer electronics, usually contain small desiccant pouches.

Q: Should I remove desiccant?

A: If you're concerned about accidentally swallowing the desiccant in your container, ask your pharmacist before removing it, especially if it's a container with several months’ supply of capsules that you'll have for a while. Throwing out the desiccant could, over time, compromise the quality of the drug.

Q: How long does desiccant last?

A: We recommend that a desiccant be replaced once every three years for open-cycle systems and once every two years for closed-cycle systems. A desiccant may degrade more quickly depending on the environment where it is used. Dew point temperatures offer a good indication for when to replace your desiccant.

Q: What is the disadvantage of desiccant?

A: The performance will drop once the desiccant begins to become saturated. Humidity indicators are not precise; colors may not begin to change until the air quality exceeds 20% relative humidity. Replacement cartridges require constant servicing and can be costly.

Q: Is it safe to put desiccant in food?

A: Commonly used desiccants include silica gel and calcium oxide. Silica gel is in form of small beads. It is chemically and biologically inert, so it is not expected to cause harmful effects if accidentally ingested in small amount.

Q: What happens if you accidentally eat desiccant?

A: Swallowing a large amount at once is not too dangerous, but it may cause nausea and vomiting. For that reason, experts recommend calling a poison control center if you swallow a "do not eat" packet, just to be safe.

Q: How effective is desiccant?

A: Molecular sieve desiccants have a very strong affinity and a high adsorptive capacity for water in an environment of low water concentration. At 25°C/10%RH, molecular sieves can adsorb water to approximately 14% of their own weight.

Q: How long do desiccant bags last?

A: Between 1 and 3 years. While desiccant bags don't have a set expiration date, most desiccant bags last between 1 and 3 years. Outside factors, such as the environment they're exposed to, can shift this timeframe as well.

Q: Should I get a desiccant or a dehumidifier?

A: Condensing dehumidifiers are very effective at maintaining an atmosphere as low as 45-50%RH. If a project calls for a humidity level below this, desiccant technology offers more powerful drying performance. A desiccant dryer can deliver extreme environmental control as low as 1%RH.

Q: How do you know if desiccant is bad?

A: Pull the desiccant beads out and squish them between your fingers. If they are very brittle and crumble upon doing so, they're bad and need to be replaced. Take a styrofoam cup, fill it with about 1 inch of desiccant beads, and pour water on them, just enough to cover them or leave a few above the water.

Q: Is it safe to touch desiccant?

A: A quick note about that safety warning you see all the time: Clear silica gel pellets are nontoxic and fairly safe to handle.

Q: What is the best natural desiccant?

A: Clay is a good basic desiccant that works satisfactorily below 120°F (approximately 50°C).

Q: How much desiccant do I need for a safe?

A: The general rule is that a minimum of 1.2 units of desiccant per 1 cubic foot of volume is needed to adequately protect a given space.

Q: Does desiccant reduce humidity?

A: Desiccants are materials used to maintain dryness, whether preserving food products or preventing moisture damage to electronics or medications. Desiccants absorb the humidity and moisture in the air to maintain a moisture-free environment, which is essential to prevent damage, corrosion, bacteria and mold growth.

Q: How toxic are desiccant packs?

A: The packets contain either granular silicic acid, which resembles sand, or tiny gel beads. Silica gel is non-toxic, meaning that it is not poisonous if eaten.

Q: Is desiccant safe to breathe?

A: Inhalation of silica gel is another risk; breathing-in may cause lung irritation, coughing and dyspnoea (short of breath). The small bags can cause choking and the packet may lacerate and release the contents into the mouth, throat, gullet or lungs.

Q: Does desiccant smell?

A: No, desiccant packs are odorless and tasteless.

Q: What color is dry desiccant?

A: Orange Indicating silica gel appears orange or yellow when dry or fresh before using it. When the desiccant is completely soaked with moisture and has gained 15 percent more weight, it appears green.

Q: What is the difference between silica gel and desiccant?

A: Desiccant is a drying agent. It induces or sustains a state of dryness (desiccation) in its vicinity. It absorbs and holds humidity to itself. Silica gel is a a pure, vitreous, porous form of silicon dioxide made from sodium silicate.

Q: Where do you put desiccant?

A: Desiccants will only be effective when used in a closed moisture barrier package or a rigid, sealed container. This needs to be in a controlled environment to allow for optimal adsorption of the trapped vapors inside.

We're professional desiccant manufacturers and suppliers in China, specialized in providing high quality products and service. We warmly welcome you to wholesale high-grade desiccant from our factory.

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