desiccation

Question 1

defination

Answer 1

 The word desiccation is derived from Latin word “desiccare” means to dry completely.
 The process of desiccating a thing is called desiccation.
 Desiccation is a dehydration process for removing moisture from solid or liquid substances.
 The moisture thus driven off is called hygroscopic moisture as distinguished from moisture that is
chemically combined as in water of crystallization.

Question 2

introduction

Answer 2

 The word desiccation is derived from Latin word “desiccare” means to dry completely.
 The process of desiccating a thing is called desiccation.
 Desiccation is a dehydration process for removing moisture from solid or liquid substances.
 The moisture thus driven off is called hygroscopic moisture as distinguished from moisture that is
chemically combined as in water of crystallization.
 The material is placed on a shelf, and a drying agent or desiccant, such as dry silica gel or anhydrous
sodium hydroxide, is placed below the shelf.
 Desiccation is the process of removing adhered moisture from liquid or solid substances.
 The term desiccated is used for those substances from which the water or moisture has been completely
removed.

Question 3

purpose

Answer 3

 To remove the moisture from a thing that normally contains moisture, such as plant; to dry out
completely; to preserve by drying.
 Manufacture of dietary supplements and medicines desiccate some product to extend their shelf life
and maintain purity.
 The object of the process is to preserve medicinal value of the substance.
 To reduce the bulk and weight and facilitate powdering of chemicals and crude drug.

Question 4

process

Answer 4

 To remove the moisture from a thing that normally contains moisture, such as plant; to dry out
completely; to preserve by drying.
 Manufacture of dietary supplements and medicines desiccate some product to extend their shelf life
and maintain purity.
 The object of the process is to preserve medicinal value of the substance.
 To reduce the bulk and weight and facilitate powdering of chemicals and crude drug.

Question 5

examples

Answer 5

 Desiccated beef liver is a dietary supplement marketed in the form of powders and tablets.
 Synthetic desiccated thyroid hormone is a medicine marketed in the form of pills to treat thyroid
conditions such as myxedema, which can cause drowsiness, tissue swelling, tongue enlargement and
other symptoms because of insufficient hormone output by the thyroid gland.

Question 6

application

Answer 6

 In preservation of vegetable and animal drugs that are destroyed in presence of moisture.
o Dry drug contains 12% moisture
o Desiccant drugs contain 0% moisture
 Comminution of drugs is difficult when they are wet, but it becomes easy when they are dried.
 To decrease the bulk and weight of substances containing moisture to facilitate their easy handling.
 To increase shelf life of drugs
 To increase the stability of drugs
 To avoid hydrolysis, oxidation etc.
 To keep the compound intact
 Pharmaceutical companies often use freeze drying as a desiccation tool to increase the shelf life of
product
 Microorganism cannot grow and divide when desiccated, but can survive for certain period of time,
depending medicine and facilitate powdering
 Reduced bulk weight of and facilitate powdering