Certainly no expert on this, but I can't see how a desiccant would benefit a pile unless you had a continuing problem with excess moisture and were getting ongoing anerobic digestion. Maybe someone else can recomend whether it is even a good thing to put this in the pile as the chemistry of the desiccant may have an adverse effect? Doesn't sound good to me.
hortster

That would be "anaerobic." Sorry.
hortster

Synthetic probably, moisture absorbing certainly, most likely does not meet the if you would eat it test though. I'm not at all sure it would be anaerobic, however.

Those little packs of desiccant are useful for placing in storage containers; I use 'em in household storage boxes & for pantry items as well. I keep them from direct contact w/ foods,tho.

I think they are a type of silica, i.e. the same stuff as sand, and would be harmless in the compost, but would add nothing either, same as adding a handful of sand. I keep the larger ones around, bake them in the oven to re-dry when needed, and use them for storing delicate things.

If you gather seed from your plants, you can toss them in the 'seed box'

I would not add dessicant to the compost pile... I don't see how it will benefit the compost... I would do what the above post said, use it for storing things,etc.. Only thing that goes in my compost is plant matter, manure, and ground up rock...

Joe