carbon clay and superadsorbent polymers in some embodiments of the invention the wicking agent is cellulose in some embodiments of the present invention a wicking agent may be present in an amount by weight of between about 10 to about 40 in other embodiments of the present invention a wicking agent may be present in an amount by weight of between about 20 to about 30 various salts may be added to the oxygen scavenger to speed the reaction of iron and oxygen the salt u201c pits u201d the surface of the iron increasing the surface area of the iron speeding the oxidation reaction preferably the salt additive does not substantially affect the ph of the oxygen scavenger examples of suitable salts include chloride salts such as nacl cacl 2 or mgcl 2 to make the oxygen scavenger iron malic acid and cellulose are mixed thoroughly in a dry mixer the oxygen scavenger may then be placed and sealed in an oxygen permeable water impermeable container the container can be in various shapes and sizes examples of suitable containers include packets canisters capsules and the like suitable oxygen permeable water impermeable materials include pet films and tyvek available from e i du pont de nemours and co the container should be oxygen permeable so that.