Molecular Sieve Desiccants

Molecular sieve is available in the following forms:

• Tri-Sorb packaged molecular sieve
• Tri-Sorb molecular sieve tablets
• Loose Bulk molecular sieve

A "molecular sieve" is a material containing tiny pores of a precise and uniform size that is used as an adsorbent for gases and liquids. Molecular Sieve often consist of alumino-silicate minerals, clays, porous glasses, micro-porous charcoals, zeolites, active carbons, or synthetic compounds that have open structures through which small molecules, such as nitrogen and water can diffuse. Molecules small enough to pass through the pores are adsorbed while larger molecules are not.

It is different from a common filter in that it operates on a molecular level. For instance, a water molecule may be small enough to pass through while larger molecules are not. Because of this, they often function as a desiccant. A molecular sieve can adsorb water up to 22% of its own weight.

Molecular sieves are often utilized in the petroleum industry, especially for the purification of gas streams and in the chemistry laboratory for separating compounds and drying reaction starting materials. The mercury content of natural gas is extremely harmful to the aluminum piping and other parts of the liquefaction apparatus - silica gel is used in this case.

Methods for regeneration of molecular sieves include by pressure change as in oxygen concentrators or by heating and purging with a carrier gas as when used in ethanol dehydration.

If the container you need to protect is 950cc or less in volume, a gram-size desiccant requirement chart is available here.

 

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