- How does the reactivation work?
As
a general rule, saturated desiccant will require a minimum of
4-6 hours at a temperature of between 221°F to 266°F (105°C
to 130°C) throughout the entire desiccant bed for the reactivation
process to be effective and reduce the adsorbed moisture to less
than 2% by weight. The recommended reactivation temperature
for Blue to Pink silica gel is max. 266°F (130°C) and
the recommended reactivation temperature for Orange to Green silica
gel is max. 221°F (105°C). The actual maximum temperature
that the oven will reach is approximately 275°F (135°C)
even though the temperature dial on the unit shows a range of 32°F
to 392°F (0°C to 200°C). CAUTION:
Some desiccants are seriously damaged and can release toxic chemicals
if overheated.
Reactivation should be carried out in a ventilated electric oven. A
sealed oven will limit the moisture liberated and prevent efficient
reactivation. Gas ovens and microwave cookers are also not
suitable for reactivation. Ideally, after reactivation the
desiccant must be placed in a sealed container and allowed to cool. The
reactivated desiccant should not be stored in a warm oven at 140°F
(60°C) as this may allow partial saturation of the desiccant
although the activity indicator may indicate the desiccant is active.
The Reactivator Unit is able to reactivate up to 55 lbs. (25 kg)
of saturated silica gel using a standard 13 amp domestic supply. To
validate reactivation efficiency, a fundamental weight loss test
conducted before and after processing will provide the data to
calculate the amount of moisture lost. A supply
of pre-heated air is an integral requirement for an efficient reactivation
process. For saturated desiccant a minimum air flow of between
5-10 cubic feet per minute is required.
- How high is the temperature?
Silica gel has the ability to release absorbed moisture when heated to a temperature of over 212°F (100°C); it can then be used again. The maximum recommended reactivation temperature for silica gel is 266°F (130°C). For Envirogel, the maximum reactivation temperature is 221°F (105°C).
- Can I reactivate molecular sieve, as well as silica gel?
The 1005 Reactivator Unit is designed to reactivate silica gel, not molecular sieve. You would need a higher temperature in order to reactivate molecular sieve desiccant.
- Can I reactivate bags?
AGM does not recommend using the 1005 Reactivator Unit to reactivate desiccant bags as the reactivation procedure is much more effective with loose desiccant. However, AGM does use these reactivators to reactivate non-refillable desiccators.
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