Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), a naturally occurring component in sand, is silica gel in colloidal form. It comes in tiny containers and is commonly used as a dehumidifier or desiccant. Silica gel is made up of tiny pellets of silica and water. These little pellets are capable of absorbing significant volumes of water.
Molds thrive in conditions of high humidity. This can result in the spoiling of packaged goods. The desiccant silica gel absorbs water and decreases moisture, minimizing product degradation caused by excess moisture. To manage humidity levels, the silica gel packets function as dehumidifiers or humidity packs.They have a wide range of applications, such as those used in the pharmaceutical industry, electronic industry, food industry, clothing industry, and also in diagnostic kits.
Desiccants are usually hygroscopic substances that absorb moisture and maintain dryness in the surrounding environment. They reduce humidity in the air. Silica gel is a type of desiccant. In the studies of desiccant vs silica gel, it is seen that the main difference between desiccants and silica gel is that desiccants adsorb or absorb moisture. At the same time, silica gel is a desiccant that absorbs water.