Regeneration method of silica gel desiccant

一．The function and regeneration method of silica gel desiccant

Silica gel desiccant is an efficient humidity absorber and is widely used in various packaging, transportation, storage, electronic instruments and other fields. In long-term use, the silica gel desiccant will be saturated and needs to be regenerated before it can continue to be used. There are three main methods for regenerating silica gel desiccant commonly used on the market:

1. drying method

The drying method is a common method for regenerating silica gel desiccant, and it is easy to operate. Distribute the saturated silica gel desiccant evenly and place it in a high-temperature oven. The temperature is generally controlled at about 120~130°C. The time depends on the size and saturation of the desiccant, which is about 2-4 hours. The drying method is helpful to restore the hygroscopicity of the silica gel desiccant, but it should be considered that baking for too long or at too high temperature may have an impact on the desiccant.

2. microwave method

The microwave method is a fast and efficient method for regenerating silica gel desiccant. Place the saturated silica gel desiccant in the microwave oven, adjust the microwave oven to a power of about 600-700W, let it heat for between 2 and 5 minutes each time, and adjust the heating times according to the saturation degree of the desiccant. However, silica gel desiccant can easily cause temperature unevenness or even high temperature due to excessive microwave heating, thus affecting its moisture absorption performance.

3. Vacuum method

The vacuum method is a special regeneration method of silica gel desiccant, which is suitable for quickly removing the moisture in the desiccant within a certain period of time. The specific method is to put the saturated silica gel desiccant into a vacuum bag, and then extract the air inside through a vacuum pump. Due to changes in air pressure, the moisture molecules in the silica gel desiccant will expand instantly and be dried out by vacuum, thereby achieving the regeneration effect. However, this method requires the purchase of vacuum bags and equipment first, and the investment cost is high.

二．Comparison of different regeneration methods

Each of the three regeneration methods has its advantages and disadvantages, and practical applications should be comprehensively considered based on the use environment, equipment conditions, and cost. The drying method is relatively cheap and easy to operate, and is suitable for regeneration of desiccant in large areas, but the temperature and time must be controlled well. The microwave method takes a shorter time and is suitable for rapid regeneration of desiccant in a small area, but attention needs to be paid to balancing microwave power and time. The vacuum method has better regeneration effect but higher equipment investment. It is suitable for silica gel desiccant in some precision instruments and electronic products. In short, choosing the silica gel desiccant regeneration method that suits you can effectively extend the service life of the silica gel desiccant and reduce environmental pollution.