Molecular Sieve and Silica Gel


2023-09-13

  Silica gel can also be used as a desiccant, but it differs significantly from molecular sieves. Different factors to consider when choosing between the two include assembly options, pressure changes, humidity levels, mechanical forces, temperature range, etc. The main differences between molecular sieves and silica gel are: 
  1. The adsorption rate of molecular sieves is greater than that of silica gel. This is because sieves are fast-drying agents. 
  2. Molecular sieves perform better than silica gel at high temperatures because they have a more uniform structure that can firmly bind water. 
  3. At low relative humidity, the capacity of molecular sieves is far superior to that of silica gel. 
  4. The structure of molecular sieves is well-defined with uniform pores, whereas silica gel has an amorphous structure with multiple irregular pores.