Table of Contents
Why is my silica gel orange?
When the beads are dry, they appear yellow/orange in color, and when they have become saturated with moisture to about 15% by weight the beads will change to a green color. This type of indication enables users to visually confirm when the desiccant is needs to be replaced or regenerated.
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 color should silica gel be?
The bulk silica gel we have is an indicating type of silica gel. The moisture color indicator is due to bright blue crystals of a heavy metal salt, cobalt chloride. 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.
Can Orange silica gel be reused?
The good news is that you can reuse these Silica Gel Crystals up to 500 times, and the procedure is quite simple. All you need is an oven, an oven-safe dish, maybe some aluminum foil to hold the crystals, and you’re ready to recharge Silica Gel.
Is Orange silica gel safe?
In addition, Orange Silica Gel is a non-toxic, pollution-free desiccant that will meet the needs of environmentally-conscious companies.
How do you recharge Orange silica gel?
Place the dish in an oven and heat it to 120C for 12 hours. Leave the Silica Gel crystals in the oven for a while, until they release the trapped water from within them, and revert to their original blue or orange colour. Once they’re blue (or orange), it is Recharged and Restored to its capacity.
Can you microwave silica gel?
It has come to my attention that people aren’t aware that you can microwave your desiccant to remove the moisture from it. I put them in for a minute at a time, then flip them, then do another minute. Be careful when flipping them as it will be hot. Thankfully you can grab the edge of the packet and be fine.
What is the difference between blue and orange indicating silica gel?
Blue Indicating Silica Gel tends to be less expensive than Orange Indicating Silica Gel while still maintaining the same performance standards. However, the use of Blue Indicating Silica Gel has been limited due to its ban in the European Union. Despite this fact, Blue Indicating Silica Gel is still available for use in the United States.
What are the different types of silica gel?
There is also a newer variety of Orange silica gel which goes colorless when saturated with moisture and is considered better as far as the indication, adsorption capacity & environmental impact are concerned. Today, orange silica gel is the most widely used variety of silica gel used in commercial applications.
Can orange silica gel be used in food?
Orange Silica Gel should not be used in direct contact with products that are intended for human consumption, such as food and pharmaceuticals. Orange silica gel has methyl violet which turns the gel green in color when the desiccant becomes saturated by moisture.
How does indicating silica gel work?
Indicating desiccant does this by changing color as it becomes increasingly saturated with moisture. Indicating silica gel is chemically treated to transition from one color to another as it adsorbs moisture and eventually saturates. This trait makes bulk silica gel ideal for removing moisture from air and gases.