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How Silica Gel Took Over the World

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225 points Hooke | 4 comments | 01 Apr 25 19:33 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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amelius ◴[02 Apr 25 16:56 UTC] No.43558749[source]▶
Silica is great for removing humidity from air. But what I want is to remove oxygen from air, so my food stays fresh longer. Any clean and easy to use substance/method for that purpose?
replies(3): >>43558814 #>>43558857 #>>43558992 #
1. Luc ◴[02 Apr 25 17:02 UTC] No.43558814[source]▶
Oxygen absorbers. Little paper packets of iron powder.
replies(2): >>43558821 #>>43558868 #
2. dawnerd ◴[02 Apr 25 17:02 UTC] No.43558821[source]▶
I think a lot of us might even confuse the two. The packets look fairly similar too.
3. pumnikol ◴[02 Apr 25 17:07 UTC] No.43558868[source]▶
Yeah don't. Like many metals, finely dispersed iron can self-combust on air. I'd suggest an air-tight packaging filled with CO2, or, if your food is susceptible to acid, N2, if at all feasible. Industry uses additives similar to hydroquinone, mixed directly into, e.g., plastics. Plenty of them are food-safe, but I wouldn't know where to buy them if you aren't a business.
replies(1): >>43559940 #
4. Luc ◴[02 Apr 25 18:40 UTC] No.43559940[source]▶
You leave the iron powder in the packets. No need to disperse it, and certainly not in the air.