|
|
 |
Absorbents |
 |
Why Choose Absorbents?
Traditionally, industrial companies have always used products, like clay, sawdust, or even cardboard and rags, in an attempt at dealing with leaks and spills in the work place. In fact many just let the liquid spread unchecked across the work area where it becomes a slip hazard, seeps into the floor or accesses drains causing both ground and water contamination.
Clay granules are heavy (normally packed in 30ltr / 18kg bags), dusty, ineffective and can contain carcinogens. No one minds “spreading” granules, but very few like to clean them up which leads to a saturated mess being tracked around the area, walked into offices, cars etc. Loose products can ingress plant and machinery adding to maintenance problems and in some cases contaminate finished product causing batch rejection or damage to moulds.
It goes without saying, that apart from looking unsightly rags, sawdust and cardboard are all potential fire risks and can cause companies to fail fire brigade inspections and void insurance.
Modern contained absorbents are simple to deploy, easy to recover and very effective. By keeping a ready supply of absorbent products positioned around your work place you will be able to quickly deal with minor spillages without needing to break into your spill kit. Spill kits can then be left fully stocked to deal with major spillages as part of an effective spill response plan. By keeping absorbents in the workplace you will also improve your general housekeeping as they are by far the cleanest and most effective way of clearing up liquid mess.
As with our comprehensive range of spill kits, absorbents should be supplemented by suitable spill containment products in accordance with the Oil Storage Regulations. Absorbentsonline are proud to supply the Megabund range of spill containment solutions available to purchase online via this website.
They fall into 3 distinct groups:
1.General Purpose for oils, coolants, cutting fluids, mild solvents & water
2.Oil only repel water and only absorb hydrocarbons
(fuel, diesel, heating oil etc)
3.Chemical for acids, caustics and unknown liquids
Within these groups are distinct types of products:
1.Socks and Booms
2.Sheets and Rolls
3.Pillows and Drip Trays
In simple terms, Socks and Booms contain and absorb the liquid; Sheets and Rolls catch over spray and drips and clean up spills. Pillows are for deep spills and catching leaks and drips. Drip trays, well, they are drip trays.
Why & How
Most spills occur in the workplace and tend to be, Oils, Coolants, Cutting Fluid and Water.
Oil only spills tend to be those that take place outdoors, where the need is to take oil off water without absorbing the water, or deal with a land based oil spill in the safe knowledge that if it rains you will only absorb the oil.
Chemical spills are when you know that the liquid spilled is Acid or Caustic or just as importantly when you have no idea what the liquid is.
Polypropylene in it’s raw state will repel water (it’s a derivative of oil)
Most Chemicals, Coolants and Cutting fluids are water based
To make polypropylene absorb water it is treated with a surfactant (detergent) that allows the water to stick to the polypropylene.
Different types of surfactant allow different types and concentrations of chemical to be absorbed (there is a cost £ involved)
1.Oil Only – require no surfactant
2.General Purpose – require a “basic” surfactant
3.Chemical – require a more complicated surfactant
Note: The more free flowing a liquid, the faster it is to be absorbed, the thicker the liquid, the slower…
The higher the concentration of a chemical, the slower it is to be absorbed. Most chemicals used in industry are at 37% or lower.
|
|
|
|
|
|
