What is the most commonly used tool when there is a small reactive chemical spill or leak during routine maintenance?

It is usually chemical absorbent pillows.

Absorbent pillows are a great tool because they can soak up large amounts of fluid.  They also can be molded to fit tight corners or placed on top of a spill that has been contained with a sock or boom.

But all chemical absorbent pillows are not created equal.

Most chemical absorbent pillows are made with a tough outer layer of polypropylene.  Polypropylene will attract the spilled chemical into the pillow.  But then what about the inside?

There are certain features you should look for when determining the type of sorbent, you need in your chemical absorbent pillow.  Most standard hazmat absorbent pillows are filled with polypropylene.

When choosing your chemical absorbent pillow, you first want to take into consideration the type of chemical you are working with and whether it is reactive or not.  Then you will want a pillow that has the ability to not just absorb the spill but help reduce or eliminate vapor production.  Lastly,  you need to consider its ease of disposal and the environmental impact of disposal.

If you work with water reactive chemicals for example such as Ticl4 or chlorosilane, you should look for a chemical absorbent pillow that will not only absorb the liquid chemical physically but help prevent it from hydrolyzing.  This reduces the chemicals capacity to create acid vapors and makes the spill cleanup process safer and more cost effective.

The capacity of the sorbent is probably the next important feature of the pillow.  Often times when a standard sorbent like polypropylene becomes saturated it loses its ability to continue soaking up the fluid and frequently leaches its contents.  This causes the need to use additional product to take care of the situation.

Instead look for a chemical absorbent pillow that is filled with a sorbent known for its quality, speed, capacity and efficient absorption.

Lastly, how you dispose of used sorbents depends on the type of liquid it contains. Some sorbents can be incinerated and others may require hazardous waste removal to a landfill. Sorbent disposal varies at both the state and local levels, so it is best to check local, state and federal regulations regarding the disposal of used sorbents before you ever have to use them.

Having the right products and solutions on hand can help increase the effectiveness and safety of your maintenance and spill control programs.

Guardian Environmental Technologies strives to provide the most effective spill mitigation products for efficient chemical spill cleanup. We have years of industry experience, allowing us to navigate supply-chain operations and objectives that benefit our clients.

Contact us today at (860) 350-2200. Let our innovative solutions keep you safer and save you money.