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Small transparent enclosures designed to keep objects in storage free from moisture. Most desiccators consist of a two-piece glass enclosure, the lower portion of which includes a rim to hold a ceramic sample plate that has several holes over a desiccant agent (e.g., silica gel) and that is placed on the bottom; the cover is adjusted to ensure an airtight seal commonly using grease or silicone O-rings on the contact flanges. Some desiccators include an opening in the cover for a rubber stopper with a hole to apply a vacuum pump for fast moisture removal. Desiccators are mostly used to store anhydrous and hygroscopic chemicals and/or biological compounds in clinical laboratories.
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