What Are Desiccants? Types, Uses & Benefits

Desiccants are like little moisture warriors that help keep things dry. For many industries, moisture control is crucial during the production, shipping, and manufacturing of their products. If low humidity isn't maintained in containers or packaging, sensitive products for many industries, Other than the pharmaceutical industry, desiccants are widely used by food, packaging manufacturers, and the automobile industry. These absorbents help manufacturers prevent moisture damage and prolong the lives of their products. 

Desiccant are clever materials soak up humidity from the air, creating a dry space that helps stop things from going bad, rusting, or even gathering pesky bacteria and mold. There are several types of desiccants you can choose from, such as silica gel, activated 

charcoal, Molecular Sieves and Activated Clay. The right one for your needs really depends on what you’re looking to protect. Some desiccants even do double duty by getting rid of odors or preventing contaminants. Plus, a lot of them can be reused, making them even more handy!

Let’s look at some of the common types of desiccants. 

Silica gel 

The desiccant is technically silicon dioxide with an uneven amorphous structure that helps it absorb high levels of moisture from its surroundings. It's frequently used in the electronics and healthcare industries.

Silica gel  desiccant works via a process commonly referred to as adsorption, where the microscopic silica gel’s pores absorb the water particles in the environment as the humid air passes through. Since silica has a very high surface, it can easily absorb a lot of moisture from its surroundings. 

Due to its high absorption qualities, silica gel is one of the most commonly used drying agents to protect goods against rust, mold growth, contamination, and other moisture-related damages.

Molecular Sieves

Molecular sieves are composed of aluminosilicate material that has micropores. However, most molecular sieves have customizable pore sizes that allow the desired molecules to separate from each other. This feature of molecular sieves makes them an ideal option when it comes to separating and purifying gases in various chemical industries. 

Molecular sieves are also used for infiltration to lower the humidity levels in certain liquids and gases and can be used in high temperatures. Due to their customized pore sizes, molecular sieves are one of the most versatile desiccants available. 

Activated Clay

Activated dry clay is also called bentonite. It's an absorbent clay that consists of a significant amount of montmorillonite. Since it's dry clay, it's mainly used to protect products in industrial packaging. This desiccant is usually available in the form of granules and acts as a great alternative to silica gels.

If you’re looking for quality desiccants and absorbents, Sobchem India can help you. We offer molecular sieve desiccant, USFDA desiccants, silica gel, and oxygen absorbents for a variety of industries.

We also offer other desiccants, including activated alumina, silica gel orange crystals, and much more. 

Contact us today to learn more about our products!