Absorbents for Oil Spills in Water

Whether you are working within your factory or out in the field, when dealing with oil everyone knows that accidents do occur. While no two spills are the same, there are still a variety of products that all do the same job. Finding the right one may provide extra safety to your employees, the environment and save you money!

The question we always find the hardest to answer is, “how to keep fuel, oil, diesel, petroleum away and/or out of water?” The industry has taken great strides in combating this and has created Oil Only Absorbents that allow water to flow through, around or over these pads.

However it is not easy and sometimes oil gets in basins, streams, rivers or oceans. There are two key processes from recovering oil from water – 1) capturing the surface oils and 2) retention of the oil within the absorbents.

Below are a list of absorbents that could be used when collecting oil on or in water:

Absorbent Pads
Absorbent Pads (sometimes called diapers) are thin, flexible and because they vary in absorbency are perfectly sized for any spill.

Pillows

Pillows are often smaller than Absorbent Pads and are commonly transported due to their size and absorbency.

Absorbent Socks

When needing to control everyday machine leaks, absorbent socks are the solution! Available in lengths of 4, 8 and 12 feet absorbent socks can outline any base to keep work environments clean. The absorbent material inside is contained within a permeable substance.

Booms

Similar to absorbent Socks, except longer, absorbent booms are used for trapping and containing oil on top of the surface. Additionally, booms can be connected to create a longer continuous boarder.

Skimmer Booms

Absorbent Skimmer Booms are similar to absorbent socks or booms but have a rope on the end. The rope acts as an anchor and creates a temporary floating barrier to contain spills on liquid surfaces.

Rolls and Blankets

Rolls and Blankets are similar to absorbent pads, except can be rolled out to cover large areas. Typically rolls and blankets are unwoven, but when reinforced with rope they become stronger and are called “sheets”.

Absorbent Sweeps

Absorbent Sweeps are one of the largest containment products around. Measuring 100 feet they have a spun bound layer over the sorbent material which adds strength and durability.

Mops and Pompons

As the name gives off, Absorbent Mops and Pompons are used just like mops but contain ultra-absorbent strands to trap and retain oil.

Turbidity Barriers & Baffle Systems

Turbidity Barriers & Baffle Systems are most commonly used to divert the flow of water away from spills which help with faster response times.

Sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry and spending money in the right area could wind up saving your company time, resources and money in the long run. All of these products and many more are available at Y-pers, so please contact us to discuss your specific need and how we can help.