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 the production process must be free from ferrous materials. Traditional oxygen absorbers that utilize iron-based (ferrous) compounds will be picked up by integrated metal detectors, complicating the process of scanning for other unwanted metals; for this scenario, non-ferrous oxygen absorbers, which do not contain iron, are preferable.
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-iron absorbers are valued for being odor free and metal detector safe.
Non-ferrous oxygen absorbers are often used in the packaging of sensitive products like food, pharmaceuticals, or electronics where any added metal conflicts with the production needs, such as a final metal scan of the sealed packaging. They 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.
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.
(6,000 packets/case)
Part Number: NF20CS6K
Order per Bag of 200
Per Bag $21.75
(2,400 packets/case)
Part Number: NF100CS24K
Order per Bag of 150
Per Bag $29.95
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C, carbonate, water retention agent, and aqueous alkali)
Carbon dioxide generation curve with non-ferrous 02 absorber
IMPAK produces custom printed pouches and packaging with an emphasis on materials with distinctive barrier properties to protect products from the adverse effects of moisture, oxygen, light and more. Learn about our unique custom capabilities.
High barrier bags are used to preserve and protect products. When paired with an oxygen absorber or desiccant, products enjoy even greater shelf-life and stability. However, selecting the appropriate package is not always as straight forward as it seems.
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