With the onset of the monsoon, the humidity and heat in the Air turn up more. The surroundings are full of moisture, and it turns up to create moulds, and moisture starts settling on the products and surroundings. Desiccants are used to absorb the moisture and keep the surroundings and products moisture-free. They act as a drying agent which quickly absorbs the moisture and turns the product or surface liquid free. Various products and tools go to waste due to moisture accumulation, especially the pharma industries suffer a lot because of this. Hence the effective desiccants are used to help and keep the products safe.
The most effective and secret desiccants used are:
The secret and effective desiccant used is Molecular Sieve. The desiccant manufacturer companies rely mostly on the molecular sieve that adsorbs have or liquid molecules, which are smaller drying gases and liquid and separate the molecules. The molecules are of different sizes and shapes. Hence the separation is based on the molecules.
Mostly used by the petroleum industry for drying gas streams and the LNG industry to control the water content present in the gas. Molecular sieves are used to dry solvent and are known to be superior to traditional agents. Also used as the Pharma desiccant, molecular sieve has the quickest drying effect and keep the medicines in the moisture of the bottles free. Although silica gel is mostly used as the pharma desiccant, still molecular sieve has its way out.
Why are molecular sieves more effective than other desiccants?
Desiccant manufacturer companies use various kinds of desiccants over various products, from silica gels to calcium chloride, clay desiccant etc. But molecular sieve seems to be the most effective one
A molecular sieve is an effective option because it quickly eliminates water from gases and liquids, giving cleaner results. The sieves have tiny and uniform pores, which makes them great adsorbents of the water.
Various kinds of Molecular Sieves available:
There are various kinds of molecular sieves, popular being the 3A,4A and 5Asieves. These sieves act as drying agents. But there are other kinds too, so let’s discuss them below:
3A Molecular Sieve
3A molecular sieve has the pore size measures as 3 angstroms, which can absorb water more. The order of adsorption rate is helium, neon, nitrogen and water.
3A EPG Molecular Sieve
This Molecular Sieve was made with drying fuel-grade ethanol, which can be dried to the azeotropic point of 95.6% by pure distillation. This is the method of drying by using ethanol.
4A Molecular Sieve
4A molecular sieve, which has high absorbing quality. Argon, krypton, xenon, ammonia, carbon monoxide, C2H4, C2H2, CH3OH, C2H5OH, CH3CN2, CS2, CH3CL, CH3Br, and carbon dioxide help dry the moisture.
4A Blue Indicating Molecular Sieve Desiccant
This 4A Molecular Sieve is injected with an inorganic metal salt moisture indicator. When the molecular sieve gets completely saturated, it turns blue.
5A Molecular Sieve
5A molecular sieve has a pore size of 5 angstroms, and anything beyond that won’t absorb water.
13X Molecular Sieve
These Molecular Sieves are the most larger pored sieves. This desiccant is used mainly for modifying gases and liquids.
Conclusion
Out of all the desiccants found and used, Molecular sieve is the best and widely used. It can be touted as the Secret Desiccant of 2021, without any doubt for sure. Molecular sieves have a very strong adsorptive capacity for water in a low water concentration environment. And the best part is it can be used and reused multiple times just by washing with an organic solution or drying under the hot sun, and there you go…back to use.
