FAQ

Desiccants are substances that absorb moisture from their surroundings, keeping environments dry and preventing damage from humidity. Commonly used in packaging, electronics, and pharmaceuticals, they help preserve products by reducing the risk of mould, corrosion, and spoilage. Examples include silica gel, activated charcoal, and calcium chloride

The most common types of desiccants include silica gel, activated charcoal, calcium chloride, molecular sieves, and clay desiccants. Every kind has distinct qualities that make them appropriate for various uses.

Desiccants absorb moisture from the surrounding air through adsorption or chemical reaction. The absorbed moisture gets trapped inside the desiccant material, reducing the overall humidity in the environment.

Our Desiccants are used in various industries, including electronics, food packaging, pharmaceuticals, automotive, aerospace industry and shipping. They protect products from moisture damage, such as corrosion, mold growth, and spoilage.

One porous, granular form of silicon dioxide is silica gel. It is popular due to its high moisture-absorbing capacity, non-toxicity, and ability to be reused after drying.

Most desiccants, like silica gel and clay, are non-toxic. However, certain desiccants, such as calcium chloride, can be corrosive. It’s important to handle them properly and keep them away from children and pets.

The lifespan of a desiccant depends on factors like humidity, temperature, and packaging conditions. Generally, they can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months or longer if stored in airtight conditions

Many desiccants, such as color-indicating silica gel, change color when saturated. For non-indicating desiccants, increased humidity or visible moisture damage to the protected items may signal saturation.

The amount of desiccant needed depends on factors like the volume of the packaging, type of product, desired humidity level, and storage duration. Manufacturers often provide guidelines based on these parameters.

Desiccant packs are small sachets containing desiccant materials used to reduce moisture in packaged goods. Moisture absorbers are larger, often placed in rooms or storage areas to control humidity on a larger scale.

Yes, desiccants reduce humidity, making the environment less favorable for mold and mildew growth. However, they cannot eliminate existing mold but can help prevent new growth.

Yes, natural clay desiccants and silica gel are considered eco-friendly options. They are non-toxic, reusable, and can be safely disposed of without harming the environment.

Desiccants are available right here at desiccants.co.uk. You can purchase them in bulk or in small packs, depending on your needs.

Store unused desiccants in airtight containers or sealed bags to prevent them from absorbing moisture from the air. Keeping them dry ensures they remain effective when needed.

Alternatives include vacuum-sealed packaging, dehumidifiers, and humidity-controlled storage environments. However, desiccants are often the most cost-effective and convenient solution for many applications.

Yes, food-grade desiccants, such as silica gel labeled as safe for food use, are often used in food packaging to keep products dry and extend shelf life. Always check for food-safe labeling before use.

Most desiccants, like silica gel and clay, can be disposed of in regular household waste. For calcium chloride or other chemical desiccants, follow the disposal instructions on the packaging or consult local waste disposal guidelines.

Desiccants help protect electronic devices from moisture, which can cause corrosion, short circuits, and other damage. Including desiccants in packaging prevents these issues during shipping and storage.

Desiccants containing calcium chloride cannot easily be regenerated, but good quality silica gel can be dried out and re-used several times over. It will lose some capacity each time and for best results regeneration should start before the desiccant has reached equilibrium. Be aware that the sachets/bags themselves are made by heat sealing and re-heating may therefore compromise the seal integrity of the bags.

Basic clay is cheaper but does not adsorb as much. This is usually overcome by adding 30% which does add weight and cost – so not all win win. At R-Tech we offer a modified clay which is a lot less dusty and also adsorbs the same amount of moisture vapour as silica gel. Silica gel stays dry to touch, even at equilibrium. Clay can be damp at equilibrium and relies on the encapsulation packaging to ensure that this is not a problem.

Historically Silica gel has been the number one choice of desiccant in the UK and sachets have always been described by weight. In Europe clays were always the predominant choice of desiccant and Germany produced a desiccant unit standard (DU), for clays primarily, which is a method of evaluating the amount of moisture vapour a sachet can adsorb. One DU of most clay products equals 33grm. One DU of R-Tech modified clay is equal to 25grm – the same as 1 DU of silica gel.

Both Silica gel and our Modified Clay desiccant will adsorb up to 30% their own weight in moisture. It is impossible for the product to arrive with you containing no moisture at all but R-Tech desiccants are top quality and will not contain a residual of more than 2% moisture on despatch.

Chemically, silica gel is inert. It would be extremely difficult to eat in any amount—similar to eating sand—but if you could, you should definitely drink lots of water to prevent dehydration. Although not provided by R-Tech, cobalt is an ingredient in blue silica gel sachets and bulk that are readily available. When moisture is absorbed, cobalt turns pink and is used as a “moisture indicator.” Since January 2000, cobalt has been classified as a poison and has to be labelled specifically in the UK and throughout Europe. Our indicator is non-toxic and ranges from orange to green. If in doubt, consult a medical professional or the MSDS.