JPS6328427A - Humidity conditioning agent - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a humidity conditioning agent which has moisture absorbing action in case the environment used therewith is higher than the required humidity and has the action discharging the moisture incorporated in the humidity conditioning agent itself in case it is lower than the required humidity and is free from deliquescence by using a mixture of silicic acid anhydride and specified salt selected in accordance with aimed humidity. CONSTITUTION:A humidity conditioning agent is produced by mixing both silica gel or light silicic acid anhydride and salt selected from a group consisting of sodium bichromate, magnesium nitrate, potassium carbonate, magnesium chloride, potassium acetate and calcium chloride in accordance with the aimed humidity. This is packed in a moisture-permeable bag or the like and provided in an environment (a closed vessel having constant volume) to be conditioned for humidity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to humectants. More specifically, the present invention relates to a humidity conditioner that can adjust and maintain the amount of moisture or humidity in a closed container within a specific range by moisture absorption or moisture release, and which does not deliquesce due to absorbed moisture.

Desiccants consisting of silica gel, alumina gel and other inorganic salts, such as calcium chloride, have often been used as desiccant agents for the preservation of prior art pharmaceuticals. However, most of these desiccant properties exhibit hygroscopic action, and they continue to absorb moisture until the moisture absorption equilibrium amount of the desiccant is reached, and if the amount of desiccant is excessive due to the relationship between the container capacity and the drug properties. This can sometimes leave the inside of the container in an excessively dry state. If, for example, a capsule filled with a drug is placed in the container under such circumstances, in addition to the moisture released by the drug, the capsule itself will also absorb moisture.
May cause capsule cracking. Furthermore, desiccant agents using inorganic salts such as calcium chloride have deliquescent properties and liquefy due to their own absorption of moisture, making them unsuitable for use as desiccant agents.

Generally, the preferred humidity from the viewpoint of maintaining the quality of drugs is 30 to 40% relative humidity.

There is a need in the art for a humidity control agent that maintains such a desirable humidity level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a humectant to achieve the above objects.

The humidity conditioner of the present invention is a mixture of (4) silicic anhydride and [F]) a specific salt arbitrarily determined depending on the target humidity.

When the humidity conditioner of the present invention is used in an environment (a sealed container with a certain capacity) that is higher than the desired humidity, it absorbs sunlight through its hygroscopic action and brings the humidity inside the container within the desired range. Or, conversely, if the humidity inside the container is too low than the desired humidity, the humidity conditioner itself has the effect of releasing the moisture contained therein and increasing the humidity inside the container to the desired humidity.

The humidity control agent of the present invention does not have deliquescent properties like conventional calcium chloride drying agents, so there is no risk of it becoming sticky, and in actual work, even if left for a long time, the initial humidity control is sufficient. ability can be maintained.

The silicic anhydride used in the humidity conditioner of the present invention includes silica gel and light silicic anhydride, which are conventional desiccants. Particularly preferred are light anhydrous silicates such as Cyroid™.

Preferred salts for use in the humidifier of the invention are selected from the group consisting of sodium dichromate, magnesium nitrate, potassium carbonate, magnesium chloride, potassium acetate and calcium chloride. These salts exhibit different levels of relative humidity when mixed with silicic anhydride and should be selected with the desired humidity level in mind.

FIG. 1 shows the relationship between various salts in the humidity conditioner of the present invention and the resulting relative humidity. Although this humidity level varies somewhat depending on the blending ratio of the humidity conditioner, it is possible to know the general relationship between the type of salt and the relative humidity obtained. Therefore,
Based on this figure, the salt to be blended can be selected. For example, in order to obtain a relative humidity of 30 to 40 degrees, which is generally considered the most preferable humidity, it is most desirable to use potassium carbonate as the salt.

The amount of moisture conditioning agent of the present invention used is related to the container volume and the amount of moisture to be absorbed or released within a given container by the moisture conditioning agent. That is, it should be determined by taking into consideration the difference between the humidity before using the humidity conditioner and the desired steady-state humidity, and the capacity of the sealed container or package containing the medicine. Although there is no problem in using a larger amount than the amount of calculation, it is not preferable from an economical and operational point of view.

Although the blending ratio of silicic anhydride and salt is not strictly critical, the ratio of silicic anhydride to salt is preferably in the range of 10:1 to 1:2.

Example 1 Commercially available Cyroid (trademark) powder 1. OF and 0.12% of a commercially available industrial potassium carbonate powder were mixed and packed into a bag made of a plastic film with extremely high moisture permeability or a laminated film made by laminating them.

On the other hand, NaC2 saturated aqueous solution (relative humidity 75.1%) 200
Capacity 100 cc in a desiccator with capacity f2t containing cc
Put the wide-mouthed glass pin in the open state, seal the desiccator, and leave it at room temperature for 5 hours.The relative humidity inside the glass bottle and the relative humidity inside the desiccator are both 7 as measured by a hygrometer.
I confirmed that it was 5. Next, the glass bottle was taken out, and the bagged mixture of Tyroid (trademark) and potassium carbonate was added thereto, and at the same time, the bottle was quickly sealed, and the humidity inside the bottle was measured over time. The results are shown in FIG. 1 by curve -0-0-K. Approximately 5 as shown in Figure 1
After 0 minutes, the relative humidity reached a range of 30 to 4 degrees, and after about 3 hours, the relative humidity remained at a steady value of about 33 degrees.

Example 2 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that an equal amount of sodium dichromate was used in place of potassium carbonate. The results are shown in the curve −Δ−mu Lυ in FIG.

After about 1 hour, a steady value of about 45 degrees of relative humidity was obtained.

Example 5 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that the same amount of magnesium nitrate was used instead of potassium carbonate. The results are shown in the curve -x-x- in Figure 81. After about 60 minutes, a steady value of about 42 degrees of relative humidity was obtained.Example 4 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that the same amount of magnesium chloride was used in place of potassium carbonate. . The results are shown by curves -■-■- in FIG. After about one and a half hours, a steady value of about 28 degrees of relative humidity was obtained.

Example 5 Using the same amount of potassium acetate instead of potassium carbonate, a constant value of relative humidity of about 20 degrees was obtained. Example 6 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, except that the same amount of calcium chloride was used in place of potassium carbonate. Results first
This is shown by the curve in the figure. After about 2 hours, a steady-state value of about 20% relative humidity was obtained.0 Example 7 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, varying the amounts of Thyroid™ and potassium carbonate used as shown in the table below.

Potassium carbonate thyroid blending ratio curve symbol 0
1 0:1 00.111:10
Mouth C212:10 Δ o,s 1s:1o xto 11
:1 rin16 C82:1 ^2.0
0 2 : 0 - The results are shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 shows that even if the blending ratio is varied, the result is that the constant humidity is 2? This indicates that it falls within the range of ~39 cm.

However, it should be noted that if only thyroid is used, it is impossible to control humidity from too low a humidity, and if only potassium carbonate is used, a deliquescence phenomenon occurs and it is impossible to control humidity from too low a humidity. Should.

Example 8 NaCt saturated aqueous solution (relative humidity 75.1 degrees) was added to the paddle in advance.
Five samples of potassium carbonate that had been left for ~7 hours were prepared and each was subjected to an experiment using the same procedure as described in Example 1.
Relative humidity was measured over time. However, the NaCt saturated aqueous solution (relative humidity 75.1%) in Example IK was 200
Lithium chloride saturated aqueous solution (relative humidity 1 t) in place of cc
5) 200 cc was used. The results are shown in Figure 3. The initial relative humidity within the glass pin was approximately 11 degrees. On the other hand, the moisture in the humidity conditioner is NaC with a relative humidity of 75.1%.
Although there is a large difference in K between the 1-hour moisture-absorbing product and the 7-hour moisture-absorbing product of the humidity conditioner that was absorbed in one tank, the relative humidity is constant due to the release of moisture from the humidity conditioner. The values were approximately within the desired range of 26-39%. This means that the moisture content of the humidity conditioner does not significantly affect its humidity conditioning ability. In addition, from this result, in order to adjust the relative humidity from the relative humidity inside the container of about 11 degrees to 30 to 40 degrees, it is better to let it absorb moisture for 3 to 7 hours in a NaC tank (relative humidity 75.1 degrees). It turns out to be effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a graph showing the relationship between the relative humidity obtained by using various humidity conditioners of the present invention and the usage time when starting from excessive humidity in a certain container.0 Figure 2 0 is a graph showing the relationship between the weight ratio of potassium carbonate and silicic anhydride in the humidity conditioner made of potassium carbonate and silicic anhydride of the present invention, and the steady relative humidity obtained in a certain container. Figure 3 shows the relationship between the initial moisture content of the humidity conditioner and the resulting steady-state relative humidity of the humidity conditioner made of potassium carbonate and silicic anhydride according to the present invention, starting from an insufficient humidity in a constant container. FIG.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. From a mixture of (A) silicic anhydride and (B) a salt selected from the group consisting of sodium dichromate, magnesium nitrate, potassium carbonate, magnesium chloride, potassium acetate, and calcium chloride. A humidifying agent characterized by: 2. The weight ratio of silicic anhydride and salt is 10:1 to 1:
2. The humidity conditioner according to claim 1, which is