Abstract: An absorbent packet for absorbing carbon dioxide at a rapid rate from a closed container, such as a package or can containing coffee and water vapor, including a porous envelope containing calcium oxide and a hydrating agent, such as silica gel with water adsorbed therein. The water vapor from the container permeates the envelope at a relatively rapid rate because of the affinity of silica gel for the water vapor in the container, and the silica gel becomes supersaturated and gives off water. The carbon dioxide from the environment also permeates the envelope because of its concentration outside of the envelope and because of the pressure gradient between the outside and inside of the envelope. The water given off by the supersaturated silica gel combines with the calcium oxide in the envelope to form calcium hydroxide. The carbon dioxide and the calcium hydroxide react to produce calcium carbonate and water.

Abstract: A controlled rate adsorbent unit including an adsorbent and a heat-shrunk casing of porous material having a predetermined water vapor transmission rate encasing the adsorbent for prolonging the water vapor adsorption time of the adsorbent. The controlled rate adsorbent unit may be in the shape of a recording disc or it may be in the shape of a three-dimensional solid with the heat-shrunk casing stretched tightly thereover. A method of fabricating a controlled rate adsorbent unit including the steps of providing an adsorbent material, heating the adsorbent material to dry off moisture therefrom, providing a porous material having a controlled water vapor transmission rate, sealing the adsorbent material in a casing of the porous material, heat-shrinking the porous material about the adsorbent, and storing the sealed adsorbent material in a moisture barrier package.

Abstract: An oxygen-absorbing composition which will not absorb appreciable amounts of oxygen from the atmosphere during formulation and handling including a mixture of an oxygen-attracting component A, an aqueous electrolyte-impregnated component B, and a water-attracting component C which has a greater affinity for water from the electrolyte-impregnated component B than the oxygen-attracting component A and a greater affinity for water vapor from the atmosphere than the oxygen-attracting component so that the aqueous electrolyte from component B cannot appreciably react with the oxygen-attracting component A to absorb oxygen from the atmosphere during the time that water-attracting component C attracts water from component B and attracts water vapor from the atmosphere. A packet with a window therein for viewing the composition to determine whether, by change of color, it has absorbed oxygen.