Select Product
Chamber Material

Drum Capacity

Drum Size

Chamber Width

Chamber Depth

Chamber Height

Terra Part # Price Ships in
304 Stainless Steel 2 16 gallons ISO 6 34" 17" 33" 1989-04B 83801 $3,345 4-6 Days 2
304 Stainless Steel 2 30 gallons ISO 6 46" 24" 37" 1989-02A 78036 $4,325 1-3 Days 3
Quick Ship+ Available Only 3 left in stock
304 Stainless Steel 2 55 gallons ISO 6 52" 26" 45" 1989-00 66836 $4,897 1-3 Days 4
Only 1 left in stock
304 Stainless Steel 4 16 gallons ISO 6 64" 17" 33" 1989-06B 83802 $5,910 4-6 Days 5
Powder Coated Steel 2 16 gallons ISO 6 34" 17" 33" 1989-22 75050 $2,318 1-3 Days 6
Only 1 left in stock
Powder Coated Steel 2 30 gallons ISO 6 46" 24" 37" 1989-21A 78040 $3,497 1-3 Days 7
Only 1 left in stock
Powder Coated Steel 2 55 gallons 52" 26" 45" 1989-20B 83803 $4,302 4-6 Days 8
In stock soon
Powder Coated Steel 2 16 gallons 34" 17" 33" 1989-22B 83807 $2,276 4-6 Days 9
Powder Coated Steel 4 16 gallons ISO 6 64" 17" 33" 1989-23B 83808 $2,748 4-6 Days 10
Chamber Material
Drum Capacity
Drum Size
Certified ISO Grade Design
Chamber Width
Chamber Depth
Chamber Height
Item ordered before. Click on bagde to see the order.

Up to 30-day trial periods, free return shipping and on-site training available for qualified equipment.

Request demo from your product specialist or add note to your order or quote request.

Some ship in:
Usually Ships in:
Free shipping in contiguous USA
Custom-configured product. Contact Terra by phone, chat or email for a project-specific quote.
Custom-configured product. Contact Terra by phone, chat or email for a project-specific quote.
Select a product line for product summary
Product Details
Product Details
  • Available ISO Ratings: ISO 6, ISO 7, ISO 8
  • Accessible and space efficient cabinets store standard pharmaceutical drums
  • Extends shelf life of dry pharmaceutical powders and other moisture-sensitive materials
  • Extra-wide spacious design allows storage of long parts that won't fit in smaller compartments.
  • Ideal for bulk pharmaceutical powders, chemicals and agricultural supplies
  • Reinforced 304 stainless steel cabinet provides industrial-strength storage
  • Fittings included for nitrogen gas purging
  • Models available for 16-, 30- and 55-gallon bulk drum canisters
  • Durable construction, easy-clean to clean and disinfect
  • Digital hygrometer displays relative humidity inside cabinet
  • Heavy-duty stainless steel LiftLatches™ and hinges
  • Optional Flowmeter available
  • Cabinet may be configured to exhaust harmful particles
  • 3"H stand facilitates leveling and allows cleaning underneath the cabinet

Marks & Listings: CE, UL, ULC

Desiccator Storage Cabinets for Bulk Pharmaceutical Powders
Standard Features
  • A Reinforced Stainless Steel Construction
    Four space-efficient sizes support two or four standard 16-, 30- or 55-gallon bulk storage drums; low-profile loading pallets available
  • B Grounding terminals
    Safely removal of static charges to prevent electro-static discharge (ESD)
  • C Stainless Steel LiftLatches
    Ergonomic stainless steel lifting latches ensure tight seal. External operation prevents internal contamination, and multiple pressure-points enhances seal; non-outgassing elastomer gasket included
  • D Mini-Hygrothermometer
    Convenient display of internal relative humidity and temperature
  • E Stainless Steel Hinges
    Heavy-duty, non-contaminating hinges contribute to long service life
  • F Stand with Nylon Leveling Feet
    3"H built-in stainless steel stand includes non-contaminating nylon leveling feet
Optional Features
  • 1 Flowmeter
    Capped port allows addition of optional flowmeter to allow purge of clean, dry nitrogen
  • 2 Automated Nitrogen Controls: Dual Purge and NitroWatch Systems
    Removable blanking plate simplies addition of Dual Purge and NitroWatch control systems, which automatically regulate nitrogen purge to maintain low-humidity set point
  • 3 Relief/Bleed Valve
    Protects against overpressures when the cart is connected to nitrogen (closes to prevent air influx when disconnected from gas source)

Reinforced construction supports heavy bulk material drums.

Drum Storage Desiccators

  • universal adjustable base stands Universal Base Stands Offer Excellent Versatility
  • Adjusting universal stand Universal Stand Adjusts to Fit a Wide Range of Equipment
  • Desiccators: Features and Design overview
  • Video Overview of Stainless Steel Desiccator Cabinets Stainless Steel Desiccator Cabinets
  • Bulk Dry Material Storage Desiccator Cabinet Cabinet; Dry Bulk Storage, RH-Controlled, 64W x 17D x 33H, 304 Stainless Steel
  • Bulk Dry Material Desiccaor Cabinet, For 30-gallon Drums Cabinet; Dry Bulk Storage, RH-Controlled, 52"W x 26"D x 45"H, 304 Stainless Steel
  • portable nitrogen generator<br/> Different N2 Generator Options to Meet Your Needs
Video Overview of Stainless Steel Desiccator Cabinets
Features & Benefits

Features and Benefits

Learn More: Desiccator Cabinets

Desiccator Cabinet Frequently Asked Questions

What is a desiccator cabinet and how is it used?

The term “desiccator” commonly refers to two types of equipment and ranges of applications.

A desiccator cabinet is typically a larger unit, often with multiple chambers, used to prevent moisture exposure during storage of sensitive parts. Because storage applications must allow periodic parts access, a desiccator cabinet typically includes one or more doors and relies either on a desiccant material (regenerating silica gel or molecular sieve) or the use of inert Nitrogen gas to maintain dry conditions. Terra offers desiccator cabinet options for every application.

A desiccator, on the other hand, is a sealable drying enclosure that uses vacuum or desiccant, sometimes in conjunction with a fan, to remove moisture adsorbed into the surface layer of a sensitive sample. These sealable enclosures are typically fairly small cylindrical or round glass vessels and are commonly used in laboratories to dry biological, pharmaceutical, or other chemical samples. Terra offers a wide selection of vacuum and non-vacuum lab desiccator options.

What are the advantages of a Nitrogen purged desiccator cabinet?

Purging a desiccator cabinet involves flushing moisture and oxygen laden air out of the cabinet using a steady flow of dry inert gas, such as Nitrogen. A purge of purified 99%+ Nitrogen gas is generally preferred in a large desiccator cabinet because such systems achieve a uniformly low-humidity storage environment more quickly than desiccant-based systems, particularly where ultra-low RH levels are required. Nitrogen can be fed into multiple locations in a large cabinet, often using a rear plenum as a distribution chamber. A mixing fan can be added to increase humidity uniformity inside the cabinet and promote moisture dilution. Nitrogen purged desiccators also prevent contact with oxygen, making them ideal for anaerobic applications.

A desiccant based dry cabinet is often prefered in facilities that lack a Nitrogen source. However, because desiccant requires a periodic regeneration (heating) cycle, these desiccators cannot provide continuous moisture protection unless equipped with a redundant desiccant module. They are also typically unable to provide ultra-low humidity levels and require a longer RH recovery time when the cabinet is exposed to moisture.

What is RH recovery time?

RH recovery time is the time required to recover a low relative humidity set point when an access door is opened to part retrieval.

The acceptable RH set point depends on industry and application. Many semiconductor and optical sensing devices feature electronics that require a storage environment of less than 10%RH and are degraded by exposure of just a few minutes to moisture substantially above this level. Unfortunately, depending on size of the cabinet and drying system, some desiccators can require up to an hour to retain a 10%RH set point, particularly if ambient humidity is very high. If a door is opened again before set point is attained, parts may be exposed to unacceptable moisture levels for hours!

For critical applications, Terra provides a number of high-efficiency Nitrogen purged desiccator cabinets, including the IsoDry desiccator cabinet, which ensures RH uniformity and fast recovery time. In large, multi-chamber desiccators, Terra’s NitroPlex system provides automatic humidity control in each chamber independently.

Improved low-RH recovery also reduces Nitrogen costs.

How much Nitrogen does a desiccator use?

Equipped with an automated gas control system, such as Terra’s Dual Purge and NitroWatch controllers, desiccator cabinets consume on average less than five cubic feet of Nitrogen per hour, allowing a single 5’ pressurized liquid Nitrogen tank to operate a large cabinet continuously for 2-3 days, depending on frequency of access and recovery time.

To eliminate dependence on Nitrogen tanks, Terra offers Nitrogen generator options to produce up to 99.5% pure medical grade Nitrogen from compressed air.

How can a desiccator cabinet prevent static-related problems like electro-static discharge?

Even the slightest static discharge can spell disaster for delicate electronic or semiconductor components. Furthermore, dangers of ESD (electrostatic discharge) are amplified in a low humidity environment. Below are a few options to consider to help create an ESD safe storage environment:

  1. Static-Dissipative PVC: Acrylic, a low cost plastic commonly used in storage enclosures, is a prolific static generator. Wiping an acrylic desiccator generates surface charges that can discharge onto ESD-sensitive components. Static-dissipative PVC prevents this danger. This material not only dissipates static charges safely but also eliminates the particle attraction that static charges create. Surfaces stay clean, inside and out, making this material perfect for use in cleanrooms. Because static-dissipative PVC is transparent and highly durable, it can be used in place of acrylic in nearly any application, desiccators included. It features a surface resistivity of approximately 10^7 ohms per square and is completely non contaminating—with no measurable outgassing—and it resists a wide range of chemicals.
  2. Static-Neutralizing Ionizing Nozzles: By ionizing Nitrogen molecules as they pass through the desiccator plenum wall, ionizing nozzles neutralize electrostatic charges on all interior surfaces. They provide practical ESD control for charged nonconductive materials, which cannot dissipate charges to ground. And because they eliminate static attractive forces, they help control contamination: in a statically neutral environment, any airborne particles that enter a desiccator are more likely to remain airborne and to be purged out of the cabinet.
  3. Stainless Steel Conductive Shelves, Shields and Trays: Terra's grounded stainless steel shelving provide a 100% ESD-safe enclosure. Grounded conductive plates (such as shelves) create a Faraday cage that prevents penetration of static charges. Because these conductive units are removable, they also protect your sensitive components from ESD as you transport them from one location to another. Terra’s ESD safe desiccator cabinet utilizes this Faraday design to provide complete ESD shielding for sensitive electronics storage.
What are the disadvantages of a plastic desiccator?

Creating a low-humidity environment requires careful material choice. An acrylic desiccator cabinet for example can be a lower cost option but bears a weakness known as hygroscopy. Plastic surfaces naturally accumulate liquid molecules through adsorption, collecting moisture from the atmosphere that clings to its surface in a thin coat. While this might not present an issue for simple operations, it can be a challenge in moisture-sensitive applications.

A potential solution to the issue of humidity in small acrylic enclosures, such as glove boxes and desiccators, is the use of nitrogen gas. Nitrogen is a dry inert gas commonly pumped into a chamber to lower the relative humidity and purge moisture to protect the materials inside. But constantly using a high flow of Nitrogen gas can be expensive, and for critical applications requiring minimal humidity, compensating for an inherently moisture-attractive material can expend a ghastly amount of N2.

Storage of large or heavy materials exceeding 100+lbs can sometimes be a challenge with plastic desiccator cabinets. The individually partioned chambers in the cabinet can make it difficult to fit very wide or tall items into the cabinet. Plastic desiccator cabinets also have a lower overall weight capacity, so they are generally less suitable for storage of materials exceeding 100lbs. Stainless steel desiccator cabinets offer solutions to both size and weight capacity constraints of plastic desiccator cabinets.

What are the advantages of a stainless steel desiccator cabinet?

Regardless of the type of gas blowing across acrylic, air cannot dislodge moisture particles from its surface or prevent air and liquid molecules from permeating the glued edges of an acrylic chamber. For applications requiring the strictest low-humidity environments, stainless steel provides moisture-impermeable protection as well as corrosion and chemical resistance. And while stainless steel will protect the atmospheric conditions of the environment within the chamber, optional properties for steel types can provide further benefit.

The best resistance to humidity comes from electropolishing, a procedure that removes the top layer of the stainless steel surface. The process entails an electrochemical removal of metal impurities, including carbon, silica and free iron, and it leaves a highly reflective nickel and chromium surface. Electropolishing eliminates the grainy texture of standard stainless steel, which can retain trace amounts of moisture or pathogens that escape cleaning. As a result, the surface has a smooth texture at a microscopic level, and liquid molecules have nowhere to hide.

Stainless steel desiccator cabinets are also ideal for heavy duty storage applications of large, bulky materials. For example, large pieces of equipment or heavy drums of raw materials. Desiccator cabinets with double doors provide extra-wide openings for large items. The shelving inside can also be reinforced and fitted with welded heavy duty shelves for increased weight capacity of 300lbs or more.

What applications use desiccators?
Semiconductors

Terra manufactures desiccators specially configured for ICs, tote boxes, IC carrier reels, and other common microelectronics and electronics parts. Not only does desiccator storage eliminate damage that can be immediately detected, but it also prevents “dwell effect” – the more costly damage that doesn’t emerge until ICs or other components are installed in more complex assemblies, such as medical devices, that are more difficult to repair or replace.

Chemical Samples

Desiccators provide an inert gas environment for storing volatile chemicals. They can also be used for slow, controlled drying, and are available with customized heating capabilities. Use of a nitrogen or other inert process gas eliminates reactions caused by oxygen exposure.

Biological Samples

The dry, inert environment inside a desiccator is ideal for storage of forensic materials, DNA samples, and biological cultures. Easy-clean BioSafe® stainless steel desiccator cabinets are ideal for use with materials that require a sterile environment.

Pharmaceuticals

Dry storage inhibits growth of organic contaminants and retards other chemical reactions that degrade pharmaceuticals.

Many More!

Clean, dry storage environments for everything from archival records to archeological samples—call to discuss your application!

Pallet; Dry Bulk Storage Drums

Place heavy canisters onto solid 304 stainless steel pallets for easier loading and unloading into/out of Terra's Humidity-Controlled Storage cabinets.

Clean, Dry, and Spacious Storage for Bulky Materials

Dry bulk storage cabinet in powder-coated steel protects over-sized materials such as 55 gallon drums from moisture degradation. Cabinet includes thermohygrometer, inlet port for nitrogen feed and heavy duty hardware to create a dry, secure environment to for bulk pharmaceutical powder storage.

Non-Marking and Chemical Resistant Adjustable Nylon Feet

Cleanroom compatible non-marking feet prevent damage to cleanroom flooring. The chemical resistant Nylon plastic base provides a smooth non-abrasive surface to protect floors. Wide diameter pads provide solid leveling and support. The stainless steel threaded shaft allows for quick adjustment without tools to fix tilting or wobbling. Tightening nuts above each Nylon base help clamp and secure each foot to prevent “unwinding”.

Automatic Gas-Purge Maintains Below 10% RH with 78% Less Nitrogen

Optional Smart® automatic gas-purge control toggles nitrogen inflow (binary on/off) for fast setpoint response. The system maintains below 10% RH with 78% less nitrogen than a manual flow meter, and helps minimize moisture and oxygen related degradation to optimize yields.

Stainless Steel Design Enhances Corrosion Resistance

Large gas-purge stainless steel dry cabinets provide heavy-duty cleanroom-compatible storage for bulky moisture-sensitive materials such as drums of pharmaceutical powders. The stainless steel construction enhances corrosion resistance for sterile environments that require frequent wipe-downs.

Rapid Drying of Hygroscopic Material

Terra's gas-purged desiccators utilize a rapid flow of inert nitrogen to quickly dry hygroscopic samples and components

Smooth Edges

Smooth edges facilitate cleaning and sterilization of doors, prolonging overall product life, ideal for maintaining a hygienic environment.

Lift-Off Hinges

Lift-off hinges facilitate door removal and door replacement. Constructed of 304 stainless steel for easy cleaning and sterilization, lift-off hinges provide a unique method of door removal for cabinets without the need for extra screws and tools.

Construction Made To Last

Sturdy and robust screw combination fortifies the stability of doors without compromising easy removal. Components are constructed of 304 stainless steel for environments where cleanliness is essential.

Products Tailored to Your Cleanroom Environment

Provide Terra with your desired ISO Grade™ design. We will tailor the product to meet your criteria and certify it with a report appended to your invoice. Certificate includes all the necessary information to streamline audits and facility compliance.

Continuous Product Improvement

At Terra, we strive to develop and produce the highest quality products for our customers to improve health, safety, performance, and yields. Our product quality is enabled by high-grade manufacturing equipment and processes, 45 years of engineering and application expertise, and our commitment to continuously improve.

Complete Project Transparency

Terra is dedicated to complete transparency on project status, shipment tracking, and installation scheduling

Long-Term Customers

Terra is committed to building long-term relationships with satisfied clients; 94% of orders each year come from repeat customers

Catalog of CE-Marked Products

Terra offers over 1,700 CE-marked products configured for international voltage requirements
Available Accessories
Popular Accessories
For a full list of accessories, select a product then click Choose Accessories on that product page.
  • Universal Base Stands Offer Excellent Versatility

    Universal base stands support and stabilize various equipment sizes. Adjustable telescoping members allow for a precise fit. Choose between stainless and powder-coated steel to fit your desired application.
  • Universal Stand Adjusts to Fit a Wide Range of Equipment

    Terra's Universal stands easily adjust to fit a wide range of equipment. Multi-purpose stand frames are suitable for many types of cleanroom equipment, including refrigerators, freezers, incubators, ovens, and vacuum chambers.
  • Universal Adjustable Equipment Base Stands

    Stainless steel or powder-coated steel, cleanroom-compliant stands easily adjust to fit industry-standard cabinets, desiccators, vacuum chambers, refrigerators, incubators and ovens. Raises equipment to ergonomic height to support disinfection and sample monitoring.
  • Relative Humidity Temperature Data Logger

    Battery-powered RH/Temperature Data Logger measures and records internal desiccator environment at specified intervals; download to a PC to meet QA/QC or regulatory requirements.
  • Laboratory Nitrogen Generator

    Terra’s Nitrogen Generators provide a continuous, reliable supply of clean, dry nitrogen up to 99% pure to eliminate dependence on bulky canisters to operate desiccators and glove boxes.
  • Dual Purge™ and NitroWatch™ Work Together to Fully Automate RH Control

    Terra's Dual Purge™ and NitroWatch™ operate in tandem to precisely and automatically control the flow of nitrogen and maintain a preset humidity level (from ambient to 0% ± 1.5% RH), no matter how operating conditions may change.
  • Data Logging with 113,000 Readings at User Defined Intervals

    Terra's Smart® IsoDry® Nitro-Watch™ logs RH, temp, door open/close, purge on/off, and sensor removal/attachment. The max data file size is roughly 4 MB or 113,000 readings. This is approximately 32 hours of data when logging at 1 second intervals, 2 weeks at 10 second intervals, 6 weeks at 30 second intervals, or 12 weeks at 1 minute intervals. When the system reaches the 4MB limit, data begins to wrap, overwriting oldest data with new.
  • Plug & Play Data Logging

    Plug in a USB flash drive to your Smart® IsoDry® Nitro-Watch™ to transfer data in .CSV format. No software required.
Products similar to this one
Other products you may find relevant
Buy Accessories
Manuals & Resources
Manuals & Resources
Blog Post
Desiccator Cabinet Features Comparison

On a tight schedule? Choose FasTrak 24/7 Priority Service to help meet your critical schedule for Terra-manufactured products, either before or after your order is placed.*

  • FasTrak 24/7 provides a 24/7 commitment to meet the shipping date YOU specify, regardless of quoted lead times.
  • FasTrak 24/7 assigns a dedicated production team plus a dedicated senior expeditor working three shifts to meet your delivery specification.
  • FasTrak 24/7 guarantees* to meet the agreed-to specified ship date.

Call for pricing. FasTrak service fees cover costs of additional services only, without additional profit.

 * Terra's FasTrak services limited guarantee: to ship on the ESD or date specified OR to refund up to 100% of FasTrak charges. This guarantee covers no direct, special, consequential or other damages and is strictly limited to up to 100% of the amount paid for FasTrak service. When a specified ship date is missed due to factors outside Terra's control (vendor performance, deliveries by shipping companies, etc.) and random factors such as accidents, the credit of up to 100% of the FasTrak 24/7 may not apply. FasTrak service requested after order placement will be quoted and accepted based on available time remaining before required ship date.