DINGXING / PACKAGING BUYER'S GUIDE
Desiccant vs Oxygen Absorber for Packaging
Identify what changes inside the sealed pack, then choose a sachet and test it on the finished package.
A dried product comes back soft. Another pack from a different line smells stale. Both complaints may land on the same buyer's desk, but they call for different checks. The first might involve moisture entering through a seal or moving within the pack. The second might involve oxidation, depending on the formulation and storage conditions. Start with the failure you can measure before requesting a larger sachet.
A silica gel desiccant takes up water vapour. An oxygen absorber removes oxygen from the package atmosphere under conditions that suit its formulation. A buying decision should connect that function to a product quality limit, a sealed package and a repeatable test. The label on the sachet is one part of that decision.
5 g silica gel packet. The figure describes the nominal fill mass.
100 cc oxygen absorber. The figure describes nominal oxygen uptake capacity.
01 / Turn the complaint into a test
For a product that softens or clumps, first compare retained samples from the same lot. Record when the change appears, whether it affects every pack, and whether affected packs share a film batch or sealing line. Ask quality staff which measurement best reflects the complaint. A crisp snack might need a defined texture check. A powdered product might need a repeatable assessment of caking as well as a moisture measurement.
For a suspected oxidation issue, ask which quality attribute changes and how your team measures it. Include the original product condition and the expected storage period. Record the time from filling to sealing and whether the line uses a gas flush. These details give the supplier a starting point for an oxygen absorber trial and help the buyer compare results across runs.
If the evidence points to both mechanisms, give moisture and oxygen separate acceptance criteria. A product can meet a headspace oxygen target and still fail a texture check. Decide which measurements will determine whether the combined packaging system is acceptable.
02 / Read the units before comparing quotes
Dingxing lists a nominal 5 g fill for its silica gel packet and a nominal 100 cc oxygen absorption capacity for its oxygen absorber. These values answer different procurement questions. For the desiccant, ask how much water the complete sachet can take up at the temperature and relative humidity relevant to the application. For the oxygen absorber, ask what conditions apply to its capacity and how long it takes to reach the required oxygen level. Silica gel product data · Oxygen absorber product data
Compare performance for the sachet you will actually buy. Ask for the packet material and dimensions alongside the test conditions. If a quotation offers a different wrapper or packet size, confirm that the performance evidence applies to that version. For automated insertion, have production review a sample strip or loose sachet in the intended format before approving bulk supply.
03 / Estimate the initial oxygen in the headspace
Ordinary air contains about 21% oxygen by volume. For an illustrative pack with 250 mL of air in its headspace at sealing, the initial oxygen volume in that space is about 52.5 mL, calculated as 250 × 0.21. One cubic centimetre is one millilitre, so that is also about 52.5 cc. Utah State University Extension
This is a starting estimate for one gas space. When reviewing a filled package, account for any relevant air between pieces, measured residual oxygen after a gas flush, and oxygen that enters during storage. A low residual oxygen target may also require a formulation with suitable uptake behaviour at that concentration. Ask the supplier to assess the full oxygen load and confirm the result on the finished pack.
For a trial, take measurements at agreed times after sealing. A reading on the first day and a reading near the end of storage answer different questions. Record the package size, fill weight, sealing conditions and sampling time alongside each result so the numbers can be compared later.
04 / Check the film, closure and sealing process
Ask the packaging supplier for oxygen transmission rate and water vapour transmission rate data for the actual film structure. Record the units and test conditions. If two offers use different temperatures or humidity conditions, ask the suppliers for a common comparison basis before applying the values to a storage estimate.
Check the closure separately. A pouch made from a suitable barrier material can still develop a channel at the seal if product residue, folds or process variation interfere with sealing. Choose inspection and integrity checks that fit the package and run them on filled production samples. When failures cluster around a specific machine or shift, review the seal records before changing the sachet.
Include changes in pack size in the review. A family-size pouch and a single serving may use the same laminate while exposing different film areas and leaving different headspaces. Give each size its own record of fill weight, dimensions and intended storage conditions. For a pack that will be opened repeatedly, agree how the after-opening period will be assessed.
05 / Set up a trial that can guide a bulk order
Use the same product lot and package format wherever practical. Set up a baseline group and separate candidate groups for moisture control, oxygen control or both. Include only options that your quality team has approved for the product and intended use. For food projects, have the responsible team assess reduced oxygen packaging hazards and applicable requirements before approving a commercial trial. The FDA Food Code discusses reduced oxygen packaging in its retail and food-service model guidance. FDA Food Code
| Trial stage | What to record |
|---|---|
| Packing | Product and sachet lot IDs, fill weight, pouch structure, seal conditions and insertion time. |
| Storage | Temperature, humidity, duration and sample dates for each group. |
| Evaluation | Seal integrity, relevant oxygen or moisture readings, and product quality results. |
| Release | Approved sachet code, package revision and owner of the acceptance decision. |
Where both sachets are proposed, ask whether the selected oxygen absorber has moisture requirements for activation. Test the combination at the intended storage conditions and compare it with the relevant single-sachet groups. Give the supplier the actual product and package information so it can assess the proposed formulation.
Use enough finished packs to cover the planned measurements and retain samples. If a measurement requires opening a pouch, assign a fresh unit for the next time point. Mark any pack that was resealed or exposed during testing. Agree on the pass criteria before the trial begins so the final purchase decision can be tied to documented results.
06 / Specify how the sachets will be used on the line
Tell the supplier how the sachets are inserted, how many units the line runs per shift and how often the line stops. Ask for handling instructions for unopened stock, material staged at the machine and sachets remaining after a stoppage. Have operators try the procedure during the pilot run. Check for missed insertions, double feeds and packets caught in the seal.
Ask for a quote that identifies the sachet formulation, size, wrapper, print and pack format. Request the relevant test conditions and product documentation for the target market and intended contact conditions. Include the approved sample code on the purchase order and agree how changes to the formulation or wrapper will be communicated. For cost comparisons, include extra handling time and rejected finished packs alongside the quoted price per thousand sachets.
Packaging Sachet FAQ
Can silica gel replace an oxygen absorber?
Use silica gel for a defined moisture control requirement. Where the project calls for lower headspace oxygen, evaluate an oxygen absorber against the required oxygen level and storage conditions.
Does a 100 cc oxygen absorber suit every 100 mL package?
The 100 cc figure refers to oxygen uptake capacity. Estimate the oxygen load in the filled package and validate the selected sachet at the required time and storage conditions.
How much water can a 5 g silica gel packet take up?
Request uptake data for the exact packet at the relevant temperature and relative humidity. Use the result with your estimated moisture load and storage duration.
Can we place both types in the same pouch?
Ask about formulation compatibility, including any moisture requirements of the oxygen absorber. Validate the proposed combination in the finished pouch.
Should we repeat the trial if we change the film?
Review changes to film transmission data, seal behaviour and package geometry. Agree which checks to repeat before transferring the approved sachet to the new package.
What should we send for a bulk quotation?
Send the product type, pouch dimensions, fill weight, film structure, target market, quality limits, planned volume and whether insertion is manual or automated.
Request Sachet Samples for Your Packaging Trial
Send Dingxing a photo of the filled pack, its dimensions and the quality issue you need to control. Include your film data and target storage conditions if available. Ask us for suitable sample options, the test basis for each and a quote for the required pack format.
Dongguan Dingxing Industry Co., Ltd.
inquiry@desiccant-pack.com · Phone +86 134 2339 5334
No. 13, Xialang Qiaofeng Industrial Zone, Qishi Town, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
