What is desiccators and desiccants?
What is desiccators and desiccants?
Desiccators (also known as dehydrators or dehumidifiers) are packages to hold desiccant which function as self-contained moisture control systems. They hold the desiccant to protect the contents of enclosures from moisture damage and are used in a wide variety of aerospace and electronic applications.
Which chemical is used in desiccators?
The lower compartment of the desiccator contains lumps of silica gel, freshly calcined quicklime, Drierite or (not as effective) anhydrous calcium chloride to absorb water vapor. The substance needing desiccation is put in the upper compartment, usually on a glazed, perforated ceramic plate.
Do desiccators remove water?
Sometimes referred to as dehumidifiers or dehydrators, desiccators are often used in labs and industrial settings to remove moisture from a product or substance without heating it.
What is the role of desiccators?
The purpose of the desiccator is to either dry a chemical or keep a chemical from becoming “wet” from atmospheric humidity (water in the air). Common desiccants are CaSO4 (Drierite), silica gel, MgSO4, and P2O5. Drierite is used quite frequently because it changes from blue to pink as it absorbs water.
Why desiccator is used in gravimetry?
Heated samples and beakers, or weighing dish, are cooled in a desiccator to prevent the sample or beaker from gathering moisture as it cools. The interior of the desiccator is dry due to the desiccant at the bottom and because it is sealed to keep outside, moist air from getting inside.
How do silica packets work?
Silica gel packets work by taking in moisture when there’s too much and, if the air gets too dry, releasing some of the water they’ve already absorbed. The gel itself is basically a mix of water and silica, the main component of sand.
Why silica gel is used in desiccator?
Since their micro-porous makeup has cavities that are interlocking, the gel has an extremely high area of surface, it makes for a perfect desiccant of high capacity. Because it has a lower vapor pressure than the air that surrounds it, molecules of water can easily adhere to its surface.
What are the types of desiccator?
The four basic types of desiccators are standard, automatic, gas purge and vacuum.
How do you use desiccators?
Usage:
- To open – slide lid horizontally across the top to one side until it comes off.
- To close – place lid partly on the top and slide across until desiccator is completely closed and then rotate lid gently in both directions.
- Do not attempt to lift lid off vertically.
When should a desiccant be replaced?
We recommend that a desiccant be replaced once every three years for open-cycle systems and once every two years for closed-cycle systems. A desiccant may degrade more quickly depending on the environment where it is used. Dew point temperatures offer a good indication for when to replace your desiccant.
What is the working principle of desiccator chamber?
Our desiccators are designed to lower the humidity level, down to 0% RH, inside a cabinet to prevent moisture from damaging the sample being stored. We achieve 0% RH by introducing a desiccant, Nitrogen (N2), into the chamber. Nitrogen serves as an inert gas to replace air where oxidation is not needed.
