It is important to note that moisture causes the deterioration of many sensitive materials causing them to compromise their integrity. No matter if it is storing chemical samples, biological specimens or highly sensitive electronics, a temperature and humidity-controlled environment is crucial. That is where desiccators come in handy. In this blog, you will learn how to choose the right desiccator cabinet, know our latest products from the PLAS Labs, and how these useful tools function.

How does it “Desiccate”?

Desiccators are air-tight chambers whose humidity has to be regulated within the chamber. Desiccators operate in two primary ways:

1. Moisture Removal: ​​A desiccator is used to lower the amount of moisture present in the chamber it contains. Desiccators work to ensure that moisture-sensitive samples, for instance, electronics, chemicals or powdered materials—do not degrade by creating a dry environment. The dryness is normally achieved by incorporating a desiccant such as silica gel and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) or by purging the chamber with an inert gas, particularly nitrogen (N₂). The substances will adsorb the moisture as silica gel attracts moisture therefore keeping the relative humidity (RH) inside the desiccator low. Nitrogen, known as an inert gas, displaces oxygen in the chamber thus avoiding the formation of oxides and other reactions attributable to moisture.
2. Moisture Preservation:​​ In some cases, particularly concerning the samples used in biological preservation or carbon dating, there is a need to preserve certain humidity in the desiccator. A desiccator can help maintain the form of a sample without getting affected by exposure to moisture or drying up.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Desiccator

When selecting a desiccator, it's important to consider the following factors:

• Material Compatibility: The desiccator's material should not react with the samples you are storing in it. Acrylic desiccators are easily visible and suitable for general laboratory use, while stainless steel desiccators are durable and resistant to demanding environments.
• Size and Capacity: Ensure that the samples have enough space in the desiccator to avoid overcrowding that can lead to sample contamination. Extra large desiccators, or those comprising multiple sections, may be required depending on the requirements of the scope in question.
• Visibility and Light Sensitivity: If you have to check your samples frequently, then go for a clear or amber acrylic desiccator. Different kinds of acrylic desiccators are available while black and amber protect light-sensitive materials from UV rays.

Introducing PLAS Labs

It is our pleasure to present you with a brand new addition to our  MSE Supplies’ product list – PLAS Labs. Recognized for manufacturing high-quality lab equipment, PLAS Labs offers solutions for industries that include semiconductors, biopharmaceuticals, and medical devices. They make desiccators that are designed to offer a high sample quality with a dependable long-term storage capability.

Apart from desiccators, the company is a global provider of acrylic glove boxes, anaerobic chambers, nitrogen-dry glove boxes, and HEPA-filtered isolation glove boxes. For more than 40 years now, their products on glove boxes have been in research laboratories in different parts of the globe. With such a long-standing reputation for quality, PLAS Labs continues to provide durable and reliable equipment for a wide range of laboratory applications.

PLAS Labs Desiccators: High-Quality Options for Every Need

At MSE Supplies, we're proud to offer a range of high-quality desiccators from our new partner, PLAS Labs. Whether you're working in a semiconductor, biopharmaceutical, or medical device lab, PLAS Labs desiccators are designed to meet the rigorous demands of your industry.
MSE Supplies is pleased to offer a variety of desiccators from our new partner, PLAS Labs. The PLAS Labs desiccators are developed with the strenuous and specific requirements of the semiconductor, biopharmaceutical, or medical device laboratory in mind.

1. Clear Acrylic Desiccator (12" x 12" x 6")
   This clear acrylic desiccator is for general-purpose relative humidity control in laboratory purposes. This enables stored samples to be inspected without the need to open the unit as it has a see-through transparent acrylic casing. Measuring 12” x 12” x 6’ in a rather lightweight, small design, it has the capability of adequately storing samples that require to be protected from humidity. One of its main features is that it has a hermetic door to ensure that the desiccator’s environment is airtight– which makes it very suitable for the storage of various fragile items across industries without the risk of their getting into contact with moisture or any other contaminants.
2. Amber Acrylic Desiccator (12" x 12" x 24")
   This amber acrylic desiccator protects your light-sensitive materials by blocking them from destroying UV rays. It measures 12” x 12” x 24”, accommodating additional storage vertically, and thus can store tall samples or other large items. The amber-colored acrylic material not only protects the material from UV light but also enables the user to check the contents of the box. The air-tight feature of this incubator enables it to reduce the level of humidity and therefore is suitable for storing biological, chemical or electronic samples.
3. Stainless Steel Desiccator (20" x 18" x 30")
   Made of stainless steel, this product is built to last and be used as a long-term desiccator. The stainless steel, compared to glass or acrylic which are not ideal for harsh and rigorous conditions, eliminates the issue of breakage. This specific desiccator comes in 20” x 18” x 30” to accommodate many samples or bulky ones depending on the user’s needs for storage and also has a strong construction to make sure that it can handle the toughness without affecting the sample being stored in it.
4. Multiple Cubicle Desiccators (48" x 24" x 50")
   This large desiccator features multiple cubicles, making it easier to store several samples, giving you ample space for storage and organization. With its said dimensions, it can be ideal for laboratories with many storage requirements where you can design the required compartments for a type of material. Multiple cubicle construction is also accommodated to effectively isolate the samples and its durable design implies a long-lasting material. This unit is especially well suited for large-scale storage such as pharmaceutical production, clean rooms in electronics or storage of substrates and panels in the semiconductor industry.
5. Black Acrylic Desiccator (18" x 18" x 18")
   The black acrylic desiccator offers extra protection to the sensitive contents inclusive of light-sensitive specimens. Its exterior is composed of black acrylic that is non-transparent and therefore is suitable for the storing of photosensitive items. With its said dimension, it is spacious enough to accommodate the storage of various lab items and at the same time keeps moisture away from the samples it stores. This particular desiccator is ideal for laboratory environments that require the most control in humidity, light and cross-contamination.

It is crucial to pay attention to some factors when choosing the desiccator cabinet to ensure the samples’ quality. This allows you to make the right choice in terms of material compatibility, size, and visibility, to get a desiccator that fits your needs. High-quality desiccators are available at MSE Supplies by PLAS Labs to meet the optimal storage requirement of your laboratory.

Contact us today to get far more appropriate recommendations about PLAS Labs’ desiccators! Our team of specialists and experts is more than happy to help you choose suitable laboratory equipment and life science products for you.