Posted in Research | Aug 13th 2026

Gravimetric Sorption: A Foundation of Drying Research

Gravimetric sorption provides precise, real-time measurement of how materials gain and lose moisture. By revealing equilibrium sorption behaviors and drying rates under controlled conditions, it delivers critical data needed by drying research.

All of our gravimetric sorption analyzers use the unique IGA method to predict true drying end-points. The optimized equilibrium detection shortens experiment times while maintaining consistency.

Relevant Applications Include:

• Dessicants – moisture cycling & regeneration

• Porous sorbent optimization – water uptake profiling

• Biological and pharmaceutics – humidity driven transitions

• Agriculture and food – water activity control

• Polymers – diffusion limited transport

• Cement – moisture buffering & structural effects

• Wood, pulp and paper – equilibrium moisture and stability

Understanding Drying Through Gravimetric Sorption

Gravimetric sorption enables the study of drying in two key ways:

1. Characterising Drying of Materials

Sorption-desorption kinetics for a Portland cement sample at 25 °C during a 0 – 95 – 0 %RH cycle showing the material’s moisture uptake and subsequent drying behavior. Characterizing moisture uptake and rate of drying is important for understanding material durability in response to processes such as C-S-H swelling and drying related cracking.

2. Characterising Materials Used in Drying Processes

Water sorption isotherm of silica gel indicator beads at 25 °C. The beads show significant uptake up to 40 wt% at 90 %RH. The silica gel does return to its original dry weight during desorption, although there is some hysteresis observed and the colour indicator suggests it has not been fully regenerated. Regeneration at 150 °C for 3 hours is usually advised.