Indicating Type of Silica gel contains a moisture indicator. When silica gel is completely dry, it is deep blue in color. As it picks up moisture from the air, the color indicator changes from blue to pink. Silica gel may be re-dried by heating. Heating drives off the absorbed moisture, and as it does so, the color changes back to deep blue. Approximately 40 g (1.4 oz) of silica gel will absorb the moisture from three cubic feet of air. When drying objects it is important to keep the container size small in relation to the object being dried. This helps insure more rapid and thorough drying

Application :

Silica gel is used in various fields of our daily life as high adsorbent of high safety. Silica gel has excellent adsorption capacities at low relative humidity for keeping materals dry. Current uses of desiccant include the follwing ; pharmaceutical stoppers, laboratory desiccators, diagnostic and medical equipment, transformer tank breathers, drying flower, packaging during transportation and storage, gas drying and refining as well as protection of the electronic & telecommunications equipment, photographic and optical equipment, engines, clothing and leather goods, food(especially dried seaweed). Other uses of silica gel are aromatics, gas absorbent, and hydrogel, and so on.

HOW TO REGENERATE (RE-DRY) SILICA GEL

There are two methods used for re-drying silica gel. One method uses the oven, and the other uses the microwave. Before you use either method please read the all the safety precautions described below.

1. Oven drying method :

This method gives the best results even though it takes longer. Set the oven for 275oF. Place the silica gel in an appropriate container and dry the gel until it turns medium blue. The oven drying method takes approximately 1-1/2 hours per quart of gel. One quart of gel equals weighs approximately 1.9 lbs (30 ounces).

2. Microwave drying method :

Place the silica gel in an appropriate container and set the microwave power to the medium to medium high setting. Dry for approximately 3 to 5 minutes and inspect the gel for color change. If the gel has not dried, stir it with a spoon and heat it for another 3 to 5 minutes. Stir the gel each time it is inspected. Approximate drying time is 8 to 12 minutes per pound of gel. The actual heating times will vary according to the type of microwave. You may set the power setting on high but please be careful not to overheat the gel.

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