Non-Ferrous Oxygen Absorbers

A non-ferrous or non-iron oxygen absorber is a type of oxygen scavenger or absorbent that is specifically designed to remove oxygen from a sealed environment in a variety of applications where a ferrous material must be avoided for the production process. For situations like working with an integrated metal detector, traditional oxygen absorbers that utilize iron-based compounds will be detected and make it impossible to scan for other unwanted metals in the production line.

These absorbers typically consist of a mixture of materials that react with oxygen, either through oxidation or chemical adsorption processes. The exact composition can vary depending on the requirements of the application. Common materials used in non-ferrous oxygen absorbers include ascorbic acid (vitamin C), sodium sulfite, activated carbon, and various metal oxides. These materials react with oxygen to form stable compounds, effectively reducing the oxygen content in the surrounding environment.

Non-ferrous oxygen absorbers are often used in situations where any added metal conflicts with the production needs, such as a final metal scan of the sealed packaging. This can be seen in the packaging of sensitive products like certain dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, or electronics. Some packaging applications that would normally consider using a desiccant to reduce humidity prefer to use an oxygen absorber, because the scavenging of oxygen on sophisticated electronic equipment will ensure no oxidation of copper, gold, and silver alloys which are critical to certain electronic components. Non-ferrous absorbers are valuable in extending the shelf life of products by preventing oxidation reactions, which can lead to spoilage, degradation, or loss of efficacy. They are also used in various industrial processes where oxygen removal is necessary to maintain product quality or prevent corrosion. Non-iron absorbers are also valued for being odor free and metal detector safe, making them preferable for some products that are shipped internationally.