Humidity controlling by Container desiccant

Humidity is very present in our lives, either in liquid form impregnating certain elements. Or materials in our home such as walls, ceilings, floors, basements, cellars, etc. or in the form of gas mixed with air.

Is humidity harmful to our health?

Humidity can be beneficial or harmful. For example, for the vital function of breathing, the air must contain a relative humidity between 40% and 85%. Outside these limits, certain discomforts may appear. Especially when the humidity is too low can cause discomfort in the respiratory tract.

Moisture is very often a problem, and its appearance must be avoided. Or eliminated if it has already become evident. It is convenient to remove humidity using ventilation. And to aerate closed spaces with a good rate of air renewal so that this flow drags the humidity to the outside. Especially suitable are dehumidifying devices. However, there are instances in which it is impossible to use mechanical ventilation. Or dehumidification because it entails many difficulties or because it is practically impossible. For example, the humidity created in freight transport containers (especially on journeys intercontinental by sea) is impossible to eliminate by ventilation. So using moisture-absorbing substances is essential.

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What compounds can absorb it?

Many hygroscopic compounds can act as container desiccant, including sodium chloride (kitchen salt), calcium chloride, lithium chloride, silica gel (silica gel), clays, hydrated salts, zeolites, lithium bromide, copper sulfate, etc. However, the reality is that many of these compounds, either because of their toxicity or price, do not have commercial use as container desiccant. The most used are silica gel, calcium chloride and clays.

Silica gel, also called silica gel, contrary to appearances, is not a gel. Chemically it is silicon dioxide. It is a solid product usually presented in the form of small spheres and is one of the best-known and used as container desiccant. Like most container desiccant, it is a microporous material with great avidity for water molecules.

Given its low toxicity, it does not require special care in its handling. However, it should be handled with care when it presents blue or orange colors due to the additives that have been incorporated to indicate its degree of saturation (the color changes from one color to another). Also, depending on the degree of humidity accumulated in the silica gel).

Silica gel is widely used in the packaging and shipment of electronic devices or components and in medical and pharmaceutical products. It is also used in air machines such as heat recuperators in their enthalpy version. It is present in many other applications and widely used commercially. And it is usually presented in bags or sachets placed inside the product packaging to be protected. It is a very good material as a container desiccant with the drawback of a relatively high price for certain applications.

Clays (bentonite) and calcium chloride are widely used as container desiccant. Very often, they are offered commercially as a mixture of both. They are also usually presented in bags or sachets. The toxicity of calcium chloride is very low. And the price is usually competitive, which is why it has multiple applications in addition to being a container desiccant.

Most container desiccant can be recycled, that is, dehydrated, subjecting them to high temperatures to expel the moisture accumulated in their pores.

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