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Desiccant
From GAWDAwiki
A desiccant is a drying agent that has an affinity for water.[1]
Desiccant Types
Montmorillonite clay is a naturally occurring adsorbent produced by drying magnesium aluminum silicate on the sub-bentonite type in a controlled environment. Montmorillonite clay performs satisfactorily after repeated use at very low temperatures, but tends to give up moisture into the environment as temperatures rise. Montmorillonite clay is a basic desiccant that works best at temperatures below 120°F. It most commonly takes the form of small, grey pellets.
Silica gel is a type of silicon dioxide (SiO2). It is a mineral that can be purified and processed into small grains or beads. Silica gel acts as an adsorbent in temperatures up to 220°F. At temperatures reach 100°F, adsorption will slow but will still take place. Silica gel performs optimally at room temperature. Silica gel is the only desiccant approved by the FDA for contact with food and pharmaceutical products in the United States.[2]
Molecular sieves are synthetic desiccants consisting of porous crystalline aluminosilicates. Unlike other desiccants, molecular sieves have extremely uniform pore size openings, which can be useful to dry a package without removing other compounds. Molecular sieves can hold moisture at temperatures above 450°F. The United States FDA has not approved molecular sieves for contact with consumables.
