Calcium chloride stands out as a highly effective solution for moisture absorption due to its exceptional hygroscopic nature. It’s a go-to material when it comes to removing moisture from the air.
Calcium chloride is an inorganic salt, chemically represented as CaCl2. At room temperature, it appears as white flakes or pellets and readily dissolves in water. Desiccants utilizing calcium chloride are effective across a wide temperature spectrum, from freezing to 80°C and beyond. Notably, calcium chloride is the key active ingredient in all Absortech desiccant products.
The applications of calcium chloride are diverse, ranging from de-icing roads and controlling dust on gravel surfaces to food preservation and serving as the primary absorbent in desiccants. Globally, calcium chloride is often produced as a byproduct of the Solvay process, derived from limestone. It can also be extracted through brine purification methods.
From an environmental perspective, calcium chloride is not considered hazardous. However, it is classified as H319 under the GHS guidelines, indicating it can cause serious eye irritation.
Calcium chloride is commercially available in varying concentrations, typically specified as 74-77% or 94-97%, depending on the desired purity. A higher concentration translates to superior moisture absorption capacity. Consequently, a desiccant with 94-97% CaCl2 will absorb more moisture compared to one with a 74-77% concentration.
Absortech favors calcium chloride as the active absorbent in their desiccants due to its superior efficiency when compared to alternatives like silica gel and clay desiccants.
Naturally Superior Moisture Absorption
Calcium chloride (CaCl2) excels at drawing moisture from the surrounding air. Remarkably, it can absorb multiple times its weight in water. In highly humid conditions or at elevated temperatures, it can dissolve into a liquid brine. This liquid brine is either contained within a collector or, alternatively, combined with modified starch to form a gel within its packaging.
