Desi Pak® – Bentonite clay based desiccants

Advantages of a natural Mineral

Bentonite Clay desiccants Silica Gel desiccants

Calcium-rich montmorillonite clays Silicon dioxide
processing of a Natural Mineral synthetic production

Soda ash Sand

Furnace or hydrothermal process

Extrusion
Milling, dissolving, granulating
Drying
Sodium silicate
Grading
Sulfuric acid Wastewater
Simple production Long and complex
process* consisting production process*
Gel formation
in extraction and
processing of the Washing
natural mineral,
with low energy and Wastewater
water consumption,
and recultivation of Drying
Bentonite clay desiccant explored mines
Grading

Recultivation

Silica gel desiccant * Simplified illustrations of production processes

DESICCANT capacities Moisture adsorption % Dynamic relative humidity conditions T = 25 °C

40
Bentonite adsorbs more moisture than the Silica gel
equivalent amount of silica gel in package
conditions below 30% relative humidity Desi Pak ®
(RH) – most common packaging conditions 30 Bentonite Clay

During initial packaging

Bentonite clay desiccant is easy to handle Most relevant packaging at high RH, Desi Pak®
during packaging process as it accepts conditions bentonite clay is easier
20 to handle
moisture at a slower rate than silica gel Desi Pak® bentonite clay can
adsorb more water than silica
at the higher relative humidity levels gel while bringing package
As desiccant works, humidity in package
humidity down
drops to the desired levels
Silica gel is best for packaging applications 10 to 0–30%

where target level humidity inside package Most manufacturers desire final packaging
is above 30% humidity environment to be 0–40% RH
to prevent spoilage or corrosion
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Final desired humidity in package Relative humidity %

Availability
Bentonite can be sourced from mines globally. Silica gel must be manufactured synthetically.
Clariant has 40 bentonite mines and a supporting global network Most production comes from China and needs to be shipped,
allowing local distribution. entailing high environmental costs.

WWW.Clariant.com/Desiccants