Which silica gel grade to order in Oman, how to work out the quantity from the absorption capacity, and the packs we supply from Barka to Muscat, Sohar, Salalah and Duqm.
Moisture inside sealed cartons, electrical panels, compressed air lines and shipping containers causes rust, mould and failed electronics, and silica gel desiccant is the standard way to stop it. We supply two grades from Barka Industrial Area to Muscat and the rest of Oman. White non-indicating silica gel is for general drying and packing. Blue indicating silica gel changes colour as it takes up water. White silica gel comes in small packs from 10 gram up to 1 Kg and in 25 Kg bags, and both grades are listed in 25 / 50 kgs M S drums. To work out how much you need, start from the absorption capacity in our specification: 27% min on the basis of mass.
Why moisture damages goods in Muscat and across Oman
Coastal Oman is humid for much of the year. In Muscat, Sohar and Sur the air near the sea carries a lot of water vapour, and in Dhofar the khareef season brings months of damp air to Salalah. When a sealed box or a container cools at night, that vapour condenses on the coldest surface inside it.
Anyone who receives cargo at Sohar port or Salalah port knows the result: rusted spare parts, mould on garments and leather, swollen cartons and corroded contacts on electronic boards. Warehouses in Rusayl, Barka and Sohar have the same problem with stock that sits for weeks before it goes to site.
Silica gel holds water vapour on the inner surface of its pores and keeps the air in a closed space dry. It only works in a closed or semi-closed space, so the packaging around it matters as much as the gel.
White or blue: which grade to order
White silica gel is a non-indicating grade supplied as transparent beads. Our product record classifies it as a non toxic moisture absorber, and describes it as non-toxic, non-flammable and chemically unreactive. It is most commonly used in pharmaceutical, electronic, stationery and cloths packaging, and our record lists its use with food containers and pharmaceutical tablets. Choose it for anything that goes inside product packaging. The full listing is on our white silica gel product page.
Blue silica gel is a semi-transparent glassy substance that contains cobalt chloride as an indicator. When free from moisture the granules or beads are dark blue. As they take up moisture they turn light blue, and when the gel has absorbed approximately 8 % of its weight in water they turn pink. That colour change tells you the gel needs to be replaced or regenerated. The indicating gel will still adsorb up to 40% of its weight in water vapour, like the non-indicating grade. Its main use is to show how far dehumidification has gone in sealed vessels and in silica gel breathers, such as the breathers on substation transformers. See the blue indicating silica gel listing for the grade details.
Many buyers use both. White gel does most of the drying, and a small blue sachet placed where staff can see it shows when the batch is spent. Our article on blue silica gel sachets covers that pack.
Safety note on the blue grade: cobalt(II) chloride is classified under the EU CLP regulation as a substance that may cause cancer and may damage fertility, and as a skin and respiratory sensitiser. Keep blue gel out of food and medicine packing, handle it with gloves, and read the safety data sheet before use.
How much silica gel to use
We do not set one fixed dose, because the right quantity depends on your space. The sizing method is simple. Estimate the mass of water the gel must hold over the storage or transit period, then divide by the absorption capacity. At our specified minimum of 27% on the basis of mass, 100 g of gel holds at least 27 g of water. For example, to hold 54 g of water you need at least 200 g of gel.
How much water the gel has to hold depends on:
- the volume of air in the box, cabinet or container
- the humidity when the pack is sealed, which is high on the Muscat and Salalah coast
- how well the packaging blocks vapour, since cardboard lets in far more than a sealed foil bag
- how long the goods stay closed, and how often the pack is opened
- moisture already in the goods, such as wooden pallets, paper or textiles
If you are not sure, send us the internal volume, the packaging type and the expected storage time, and we will propose a pack size with the quote. For compressed air dryers and transformer breathers, follow the equipment maker's fill volume and order enough to refill the vessel completely.
Silica gel is commonly regenerated by heating it in a ventilated oven to drive off the water, and the blue grade turns dark blue again as it dries. Follow the temperature limit on the MSDS, because overheating can damage the cobalt chloride indicator.
Where silica gel is used in Oman
Our product records list silica gel as a dehumidifying and dehydrating agent, for air condition, drying of compressed air and other gases, and liquids such as refrigerants and oils containing water in suspension. It is a granular, vitreous, porous form of silicon dioxide made synthetically from sodium silicate, with an average pore size of 2.4 nanometers.
Our Oman buyers use it for:
- export and import cargo through Sohar port, Salalah port and Duqm
- pharmaceutical and electronics distribution in Muscat and Ruwi
- garment, shoe and leather goods packing
- control panels, instrument boxes and spare parts stores at plants in Sohar and Duqm
- transformer and gearbox breathers at substations and industrial sites
For buyers in the Batinah region, the same white grade is also listed on our Sohar site under part number RXSOL-60-6014-400.
Specification and packing
The table below is taken from our product records.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Part number, white | RXSOL-60-6014-400, RXSOL-24-6014-025, RXSOL-95-6014-001 (1 Kg bag) |
| Part number, blue | RXSOL-19-1998-025, RXSOL-24-1998-001 (beads) |
| Application | Dehumidifying and dehydrating agent, air condition, drying of compressed air and other gases, and liquids such as refrigerants and oils containing water in suspension. |
| Specification for indicating (blue) / non indicating (white) | Loss on drying: not more than 5% mass. Absorption capacity: 27% min on the basis of mass. pH: 3.5 to 8. Chlorides: 0.05% by mass max. Cobalt (as CoCl2): 0.4 by mass max. Sulphates (Na2SO4): 0.5% by mass max. |
| Silica Gel Blue technical specification | Assay (as SiO2): 98 %. pH: 6.8 - 7.2. Density: 2.6. Loss on drying: 4 - 6 %. Loss on attrition: 2.5 % Max. |
| Indicator (blue) | Cobalt chloride. Dark blue when dry, pink at approximately 8 % of its weight in water. |
| Packing | White: 10 gram to 1 Kg pack and 25 Kg bag. Specification packing: 25 / 50 kgs M S drum (smaller packing available). |
Packing and delivery from Barka
We keep white silica gel in 10 gram to 1 Kg packs and in 25 Kg bags, and both grades are listed in 25 / 50 kgs M S drums. Small sachets suit product cartons and retail packs. The 1 Kg white silica gel bag suits cabinets, panels and small stores. The 25 Kg bags and drums suit breather refills, dryers and your own sachet filling.
Keep unused gel in its sealed pack or drum. Once opened, silica gel starts taking moisture from the room air, so reseal it straight after use.
We are based in Barka Industrial Area. Contact us for delivery arrangements to your location in Oman. For Dhofar, the 500 gram white desiccant pack is also listed on our Salalah site.
Where to buy silica gel in Muscat and Oman
Muscat Chemical (Muscat & Barka for Business Trading), Barka Industrial Area, Sultanate of Oman. Phone +968 77333599, WhatsApp +968 77333599, email muscatchem@gmail.com.
Tell us the grade, the pack size and the quantity, and we will send a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can white silica gel go in food or medicine packaging?
Our product record describes white silica gel as non-toxic, non-flammable and chemically unreactive, and lists its use with food containers and pharmaceutical tablets. Do not use the blue grade for this, because it contains cobalt chloride.
When should blue silica gel be replaced?
Replace or regenerate it when the beads turn pink. That happens when the gel has absorbed approximately 8 % of its weight in water.
What pack sizes do you supply?
White silica gel in 10 gram to 1 Kg packs and 25 Kg bags, and both grades in 25 / 50 kgs M S drums. Smaller packing is available.
How do I calculate the quantity I need?
Estimate the water the gel must hold, then divide by the absorption capacity of 27% min on the basis of mass. Send us the space volume, packaging type and storage time and we will propose a pack size.
Can silica gel be reused?
Yes. It is commonly regenerated by heating to drive off the absorbed water. Follow the temperature limit on the MSDS, particularly for the blue grade.
Request a quote: send the grade, pack size and quantity on WhatsApp +968 77333599 or through our quote request page, and we will reply with availability and delivery options.
Frequently asked questions
Can white silica gel go in food or medicine packaging?
Our product record describes white silica gel as non-toxic, non-flammable and chemically unreactive, and lists its use with food containers and pharmaceutical tablets. Do not use the blue grade for this, because it contains cobalt chloride.
When should blue silica gel be replaced?
Replace or regenerate it when the beads turn pink. That happens when the gel has absorbed approximately 8 % of its weight in water.
What pack sizes do you supply?
White silica gel in 10 gram to 1 Kg packs and 25 Kg bags, and both grades in 25 / 50 kgs M S drums. Smaller packing is available.
How do I calculate the quantity I need?
Estimate the water the gel must hold, then divide by the absorption capacity of 27% min on the basis of mass. Send us the space volume, packaging type and storage time and we will propose a pack size.
Can silica gel be reused?
Yes. It is commonly regenerated by heating to drive off the absorbed water. Follow the temperature limit on the MSDS, particularly for the blue grade.