What does it mean when desiccants are blue?
Silica gel adsorbs moisture, which in effect, locks in moisture and limits the damaging results of humidity. There are several kinds, colors and sizes of silica gel. The three most commonly available colors for silica gel are white, blue indicating and orange indicating.
What color should desiccant beads be?
Bulk Desiccant (#19960 & #19961) As the gel begins to absorb water, the color changes to light blue and finally pink, when it has absorbed about 8% of its weight in moisture.
Which silica gel is better blue or orange?
Blue indicating silica gel contains cobalt chloride and has been banned by the EU. On the other hand, orange silica gel is non-toxic and is widely used in the EU. It works best at room temperature and has a variety of applications where visual control of moisture is necessary.
What is blue indicating silica gel used for?
Blue Indicating Silica Gel Typical Applications compressed air dryers, gas drying, breathers, and in packaged goods.
Are blue desiccant beads toxic?
Is Silica Gel Toxic? Silica gel is non-toxic but it is a choking hazard for young children. However, in some rare instances, manufacturers coat silica gel in cobalt chloride, a toxic compound. Eating cobalt chloride-coated silica gel will likely cause nausea and vomiting.
Does silica gel change colour?
Silica gel blue is an option for controlling moisture which contains cobalt chloride in it. When silica gel absorbs moisture, its beads color change from blue to purple to pink, this indicates that the gel needs to be replaced or regenerated.
What color does silica gel turn?
Orange Indicating Silica Gel This silica gel appears orange/yellow in color when dry and green after the desiccant becomes saturated with moisture to about 15% by weight.
How do you recharge silica gel?
Silica Gel can be restored to its original state by heating it in an oven to 120 °C (248 °F) for 1–2 hours. Once it is restored, it will return to its original color; either orange or blue depending on its type. Silica Gel gets saturated with moisture rather quickly when there is a high level of humidity in the air.
What happens if you eat blue silica gel?
The dehydration caused by swallowing silica gel may irritate the throat and nose, stomach pains, vomiting, constipation, and nausea. You should seek medical attention if: The silica gel beads are blue or pink (i.e., coated in cobalt chloride). You have vomited repeatedly or can’t keep food down.
What happens if you inhale silica gel?
Breathing crystalline silica dust can cause silicosis, which in severe cases can be disabling, or even fatal. When silica dust enters the lungs, it causes the formation of scar tissue, which makes it difficult for the lungs to take in oxygen. There is no cure for silicosis.
What is the original colour of silica gel?
Colour of silica gel is blue at good condition and it becomes violet then pink as it absorbs moisture.
How do you dry color changing silica gel?
You can dry color-changing silica gel in a 900-watt microwave oven. The gel is blue when it is dry and pink when it is saturated. You only need dry it if it is pink. Heat free-flowing silica gel at 300-degrees Fahrenheit for one-and-a-half hours per liter (about a quart dry measure or 30 ounces by weight).
How to restore desiccant beads?
Baking sheet
How do you regenerate desiccant beads?
Silica gel desiccant
Where to buy desiccant beads?
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
How to acid washing silica beads?
Acid washing also removes potentially deleterious heavy metals adsorbed to the surface of the bead. The beads are washed with diluted acid, beads are oven dried and baked, at which time they are suitable for most applications. Silica beads are suitable for general grinding applications while zirconium beads have greater density and thus higher
