In layman’s terms, desiccants are products used by pharmaceutical companies to control the humidity while packaging medicines, and this helps to keep their products safe and secure. Desiccant is a very useful item that has drastically increased the longevity of medicines and other pharma products. This invention has made the productivity of pharma companies very high. There is an undermining need for desiccants in several other sectors also. This method is very similar to the preservation of food processors, let’s say, conceptually similar.
Manufacturing and Types of Desiccants
The pharma industry deals with several very sensitive products as they are applied to and used by patients. So, the desiccant manufactures have to be very efficient while the production is in process. Any abnormality or wrong input can lead to a very dangerous output which can be fatal for both the producers and the consumers. This industry is a very professional one as the workers have to be properly trained and skilled in whatever sector is assigned to them. Desiccants can be of several grades, and their price and action vary according to their grades. For example, there are food grade desiccants, container desiccants, cargo desiccants, etc.
Pharma Desiccants and their uses
The pharma desiccant is one of the highest grade desiccants among the desiccants. It is prepared to keep the pharma products safe so that quality is ensured. Most of the products that are created have a risk to undergo chemical reactions upon exposure to moisture. This can be extremely dangerous and can cause damage to the medicine or product. Upon reaction with moisture, the entire chemical formula changes as moisture and air contain several other elements and compounds. These reactions can alter the effects of the medicine, and there is a possibility that there will be no effect on the pharma products that have been produced. Therefore, desiccant should be used to keep these risks in check and for the effective working of the pharma products.
Functions of Desiccants
There are different functions of these desiccants as well. Some function to control moisture, some to control odour, and some can control both odour and moisture. Silica gel is an example of a pharma desiccant that can control moisture, similarly activated carbon is another well-known and household name in the desiccant category. Still, it differs in function, as it works to control odour. Molecular sieve is a prime example of desiccants used for moisture control and is very effective and used widely across the globe. The most recent and one of the best desiccants used these days excessively is a custom blend. Its function is somewhat evident from its name as it can control both odour and moisture. Therefore, it is widely preferred these days mainly due to its versatility. The effects of desiccants are always first tested at a testing facility to know or estimate their usability.
Conclusion
The methods of science these desiccants display is mostly based on the process of adsorption and condensation. The silica gel model is widely studied and used to explain ‘how desiccants work?’ which is very beneficial for explanation purposes. There is a great market for desiccants nowadays as most products are packed and travel a lot of distance before reaching the customers, thanks to online shopping. Nowadays, even the market of online medicines is growing, with several sites running their business successfully. The effect of desiccants is usually highly productive as they are made with great care and precision. The importance of pharma desiccants is widely reaching many people.