Sorbent Pads - An Overview

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What are Hazero Sorbent Pads?

Sorbent Pads are roughly 500mm square and are widely used for cleaning up spills on flat surfaces.

They are made from melt-blown polypropylene, which is a very fast and effective absorbent, and one that will hold and retain liquid like nothing else. It is a synthetic product that has no shelf life, meaning they lose none of their effectiveness, regardless of their age.

Easy to use, Hazero Sorbent Pads are available in Oil Only, Universal or Aggressive which means there’s a sorbent pad to clean up any spill. The pads are also invaluable when cleaning products such as Hazero Spills Trays, Spillpals and Drum Trolleys along with other Hazero containment products.

Hazero Sorbent Pads come in three weights: light weight (single ply), heavy weight (double ply), and super weight (triple ply).

How much do sorbents absorb?

This will depend entirely on the liquid being absorbed and the viscosity of that liquid. Generally speaking, one sorbent pad will absorb up to 1L of fuel, light oil or mild chemical. For more details on individual products, please refer to the specification sheets on our website.

What is the difference between Oil Only, General Purpose, and Chemical sorbents?

It is important to know the difference between the 3 types of sorbent products – noting that the same terminology is also used for spill response kits.

• Oil Only: will repel water and selectively absorb oils, fuels and other hydrocarbons. Typically used in marine situations. White in colour.
• General Purpose: will absorb the above liquids but also water-soluble liquids as well, such as coolants, brake fluid, paints and mild chemicals. Grey in colour.
• Chemical: designed to absorb all the above but also most of the nasty acids, alkalis and other harsh chemicals. Bright yellow for hazard recognition.

Oil Only, General Purpose or Chemical– what do I need?

Our Polypropylene Compatibility Guide can help you choose the right sorbent to control and clean-up your hazardous substance. Download the guide here.

How do I use sorbents to control and clean-up a hazardous substance spill?

The process for cleaning up smaller and non-hazardous spills is mostly straight forward. However, there are some good practice guidelines that we have drawn up, which will help safeguard you or those responding, to ensure the impact of the spill is minimised and cleaned up as effectively as possible. Download our guide here.

How do I dispose of used absorbents?

This does vary from region to region around the country, with different requirements coming from regional councils, depending on what facilities they have in the area to manage and take hazardous waste and clean up material.
We recommend you call your local council or visit their website, for disposal instructions specific to your region.

Creating safer working environments

At Hazero our mission is zero hazards. Our extensive range of quality products will help you store, contain and control and clean-up dangerous goods and hazardous substances.

View our full range of Hazero Sorbent Pads here.

Need help creating a safer working environment? Contact our team today on 0800 688 844 or email us at help@hazero.co.nz. Our team are also available for on-site assessments across New Zealand, click here to request a site visit.

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