1/26/2018 Drying Agent Selection Guide

Drying Agent Selection Guide

[ Back to the Chemistry Archive ]

Drying Agent Suitable for Drying NOT Suitable for Drying Residual g H2O/g Regeneration Reaction
Water mg Desiccant Mechanism
H2O/L
Dried Air

Aluminum Oxide Hydrocarbons, air, ammonia, 0.003 0.2 175ºC Chemisorption

argon, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, Adsorption
Freon, H2O, CO2, SO2

ANHYDRONE® Inert gas, air Most Organics (May form 0.001 0.2 250ºC with Hydration
(Magnesium Vacuum
explosive compound when
Perchlorate
exposed to organic vapors.)
anhydrous)

Barium Oxide Organic bases, alcohols, Acidic Compounds, CO2 0.00065 0.1 Not Absorption and
aldehydes, amines Recommended Adsorption

Boric Anhydride Formic Acid 0.8 450ºC

Calcium Chloride Alkyl and Aryl Halides, most Alcohols, amines, phenols, 0.14-0.25 0.2 (1H2O) 250ºC Hydration
(<20 Mesh) esters, saturated and aromatic aldehydes, amides, amino 0.3 (2H2O)
hydrocarbons, ethers acids, some esters, ketones

Calcium Oxide Alcohols, amines and ammonia Acidic compounds, esters 0.007 0.3 1000ºC Chemisorption
gas

Calcium Sulfate Most organic compounds 0.005 0.066 235ºC Absorption

Cupric Sulfate Esters, alcohols (excellent for 1.4 0.6 200ºC

benzene and toluene)

Lithium Aluminum Aldehydes, ketones, esters, Acid and its derivatives,

Hydride carboxylic acids, peroxides, acid aromatic nitro compounds
anhydrides, acid chlorides, ethers

Magnesium Hydrocarbons, aldehydes, Acidic compounds 0.008 0.5 800ºC Hydration

Oxide alcohols, basic gases, amines

Magnesium Most compounds, incl. Acids, Acid sensitive compounds 1.0 0.2 0.8 200ºC and red Hydration
Sulfate ketones, aldehydes, esters, heat
nitriles

Molecular Sieve Molecules of diameter >3 Molecules of diameter <3 0.18 117-260ºC Adsorption
Activated Type angstroms angstroms
3A

Molecular Sieve Molecules of diameter >4 Molecules of diameter <4 0.001 0.18 250ºC Adsorption
Activated Type angstroms angstroms, Ethanol, H2S,
4A CO2, SO2, C2H4, C3H4, and
strong acids

Molecular Sieve Molecules of diameter > 5 Molecules of diameter <5 0.003 0.18 250ºC Adsorption
Activated Type angstroms, e.g., branched chain angstroms, e.g., butanol, n-
5A compounds and those having 4 C4H10 to n-C22H46
carbon or larger rings

Phosphoric Acid 0.003 Not Absorption and

recommended Solution

Phosphorous Saturated hydrocarbons, aromatic Alcohols, acids, amines, 3x10-5 0.5 No Chemisorption
Pentoxide hydrocarbons, ethers, alkyl ketones, HF and HCl vapors leading to
halides, aryl halides, nitriles, H3PO4
anhydrides, nitrites, esters

Potassium Alcohols, nitriles, ketones, esters, Acids, phenols 0.2 300º C Hydrate
Carbonate amines Formation

Potassium Amines, organic bases Acids, phenols, esters, 0.3 Indeterminate No Hydration and
Hydroxide amides, acidic gases, Solution
aldehydes Formation

Silica Gel 6-16 Most organics HF vapors 0.03 0.2 200-350ºC Adsorption
Mesh

https://www.erowid.org/archive/rhodium/chemistry/equipment/dryingagent.html 1/2
1/26/2018 Drying Agent Selection Guide
Sodium Saturated and aromatic Acids, alcohols, aldehydes, Not Leads to
hydrocarbons, ethers ketones, amines, esters, Recommended
organic halides, and any NaOH + H2
substance with high water
content

Sodium Amines Acids, phenols, esters, 0.16 Indefinite Not Absorption and
Hydroxide Pellets amides Recommended Solution
Formation

Sodium Sulfate Alkyl halides, aryl halides, 12 1.2 150ºC Hydration

Anhydrous aldehydes, ketones, acids

Sulfuric Acid Inert gases, HCl, Cl2, CO, SO2, Too reactive to actually 0.003 Indefinite No Hydration
air used in desiccators contact organic materials

Zinc Chloride Hydrocarbons Ammonia, amines, alcohol 0.9 0.2 110ºC Hydration

https://www.erowid.org/archive/rhodium/chemistry/equipment/dryingagent.html 2/2