[meteorite-list] Silica Gel Drying

From: John Gwilliam <jkgdiver_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:49:01 2004
Message-ID: <4.2.0.58.20010917133242.0096ae40_at_pop.primenet.com>

Michael and List,
You can restore silica gel in with the following steps.

1. Remove the silica gel from the packages and place it in thin layer in a
shallow, uncovered pyrex dish.

2. Place the dish in a vented oven set on 200F.

3. After 30 minutes, stir the silica gel and spread out evenly again.

4. Bake for an additional 30 minutes.

5. Allow to cool in a dry area before reusing.

I use the feet of old nylon stocking to hold the desiccant for re
use. Simply place the required amount in the toe of the stocking, twist
the other end, fold it over, and hold it closed with a rubber band.

It's a good idea to use a humidity indicating card in your airtight storage
container to let you know when the gel has absorbed all the moisture it
can. When the appropriate dot turns pink, repeat the above process.

Hope this helps.

John Gwilliam

At 10:19 AM 9/17/01 -0700, Michael Groetz wrote:
>Everyone-
> Where I work we receive new power supplies from
>overseas that have 2" X 2 1/2" plastic bags of "Humi
>Dri" silica gel in the boxes. I have been saving these
>for use with my meteorites when the boxes are thrown
>away but do not really know how "dry" the silica gel
>bags are when I get them.
> The plastic bags are clear with pinholes and have
>clear and pink colored beads in them.
> Would any of you know a temperature/time these
>could be safely dried at to insure they are good? I am
>concerned of the heat affecting the plastic bag the
>beads are in.
> Thanks for helping me.
>Mike
>
>
>
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John Gwilliam Meteorites
PO Box 26854
Tempe AZ 85285
http://www.meteoriteimpact.com
Received on Mon 17 Sep 2001 04:42:08 PM PDT