Patent ID: 8029842

Claim:
A method of storing moisture-sensitive, oxygen-sensitive substances in a low-moisture, low-oxygen environment, said method comprising: placing a moisture-sensitive, oxygen-sensitive substance into an oxygen-permeable container having an environment with an equilibrium relative humidity of less than 50%; and disposing an oxygen-scavenging composition within said oxygen-permeable container, said oxygen-scavenging composition disposed within an oxygen-permeable barrier and having a water activity less than 0.60, wherein the oxygen-scavenging composition is comprised of: 30-70 wt % electrolytic iron; 10-40 wt % silica gel; 10-20 wt % water; 1-10 wt % sodium chloride; 3-30 wt % humectant salt selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, lithium chloride, iodides, carbonates, salfate salts, and combinations thereof; and wherein the barrier comprises an oxygen scavenging package and the package holds the necessary moisture within the package to support the oxygen scavenging reaction while maintaining the moisture inside the package below the level that would impact the container's contents.