Desiccant Dryers: A Necessity in Food and Beverage Production

Product integrity is critical in the food and beverage industry, so manufacturers in this sector are careful to adhere to food safety regulations that eliminate contamination risks and ensure products are safe for consumption. However, many businesses in food and beverage production neglect a potential source of contamination – moisture in the compressed air that’s used to process and package food and beverages. Left unaddressed, moisture-contaminated compressed air can cause bacterial growth that degrades food and beverage products, makes consumers sick and results in costly product recalls and fines for regulatory non-compliance. 

Fortunately, desiccant air dryers provide an effective solution as they remove moisture from compressed air and are safe for use in food and beverage production. This blog will explore the dangers of moisture contamination and the role air compressor desiccant dryers play in product integrity and safety in the food and beverage industry. 

The Dangers of Moisture-Contaminated Air in Food and Beverage Production 

Uncontrolled moisture in compressed air, which may come from water vapor that is drawn in with the ambient intake air or generated during the compression process, can result in bacterial and mold contamination, as well as particles of corrosion and rust in the pneumatic system, that can be transferred to food and beverage products or packages during processing. 

Moisture-contaminated compressed air can result in spoiled products, product waste, customer dissatisfaction, non-compliance with food and beverage industry regulatory requirements and costly product recalls – all of which minimize profits and compromise a brand’s reputation. 

How to Remove Moisture from Compressed Air

To ensure food safety, processors in the food and beverage industry must follow strict regulatory mandates put forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the International Standards Organization (ISO) and other government agencies. Most of these organizations require the use of high-purity, dry and clean compressed air. 

Desiccant air dryers, the recommended solution for eliminating moisture in compressed air that will be used in food and beverage production, use special drying agents – called desiccants – to remove water vapor and moisture from the compressed air stream. 

In a standard desiccant dryer, wet air passes through the desiccant, typically an activated alumina, which collects and removes the moisture from the compressed air. This type of air compressor desiccant dryer features two towers filled with desiccant material. In operation, one tower actively removes moisture from the compressed air that flows through it, while the other tower regenerates, or removes moisture from, the desiccant until it is sufficiently dried. When material in the active tower becomes saturated, the dryer reverses operation so the tower with regenerated desiccant begins to dry treated air while the other tower regenerates the saturated desiccant.   

In this way, desiccant dryers eliminate moisture from compressed air, helping to reduce the risk of food contamination and regulatory non-compliance. They are recommended more often than refrigerated air dryers in food and beverage production because they are considered safe for direct food contact applications and can achieve a very low dew point. 

Some desiccant air dryers attain dew points as low as -40 to -90F, which ensures the dryest possible air and is especially desirable in powdered food processing where moisture can cause clumping or spoilage, dairy processing where moisture can result in bacterial growth and applications where moist air can alter the taste or texture of the product. 

4 Benefits of Desiccant Dryers in Food and Beverage Production

Desiccant air dryers are essential equipment in the food and beverage industry because they are safe for food contact applications and remove moisture from compressed air, reducing the risk of contaminated products. By controlling moisture in compressed air, the following four benefits are achieved: 

• Compliance: Desiccant dryers help food and beverage processors achieve compliance with compressed air quality standards for the food industry by removing moisture from treated air before it comes in contact with equipment, ingredients, finished products or packaging. 
• Improved Product Integrity: By eliminating moisture from compressed air used in food and beverage production, desiccant air dryers help food manufacturers prevent dangerous microbial growth and contamination from rust particles that can impact the quality and safety of products. 
• Waste Reduction: Spoiled or contaminated ingredients and finished products must be discarded, which is prohibitively expensive. Desiccant dryers ensure a supply of pure, dry air, helping to avoid bad batches. 
• Recall Avoidance: If food and beverage products or packages become contaminated with microbes or particulates, consumers may become sick and a recall may be necessary. Using a compressed air desiccant dryer helps eliminate moisture-related contamination, brand dissatisfaction and costly recalls. 

By removing moisture from the compressed air stream, desiccant dryers can help members of the food and beverage industry improve product quality, reduce waste and avoid regulatory non-compliance and product recalls, making the equipment a worthwhile investment. For assistance selecting a desiccant dryer for food and beverage production, please contact JHFOSTER, a Tavoron company.