What is silica gel and how does it work?
Silica gel was developed just prior to WWI and was used in Allied gas masks; then, in WWII it was used extensively to keep penicillin dry. It remains the highest capacity adsorbent available today. Not a “gel” as commonly thought of, and not to be confused with “silicon gel”, silica gel is a porous, granular form of silica, synthetically manufactured from sodium silicate. The internal structure of each small silica gel granule is composed of a vast network of inter-connecting microscopic pores, which attract and hold moisture by a phenomena known as physical “adsorption” and capillary condensation. A single teaspoon of Hydrosorbent Silica Gel has an internal “adsorptive” area equivalent to a football field, including the two end zones. Hydrosorbent Silica Gel is inert, non-toxic and safe to use to protect foods, medicines, sensitive materials of all kinds. Even when saturated with adsorbed moisture, silica gel looks and feels dry to the touch.
