Stop Spills Fast: Different Sorbent Shapes and Colors

Absorbents (also known as sorbents) are designed to quickly and safely clean up serious spills including oil, hydrocarbon fluids and hazardous materials. Made using recycled cellulose or meltblown (polypropylene), sorbents may also be sandwiched between two coverstock sides for added durability and strength. Here’s what users need to know to choose the best sorbent size, shape and color for different fluids and applications.

Choosing the Right Color

Sellars makes it simple to select the right product for the right job. And using the appropriate product for each spill could make a big difference in maintaining a safe, hazard-free space. Whether a small fuel drip or a large oil spill, color-coded sorbents make it fast and easy to choose the right product to clean up different fluids.

Grey:

Universal – Soaks up oil, water and most chemicals and primarily used indoors. Traditionally, these are meltblown (polypropylene). At Sellars, we have reinvented the category with a cellulose-based material option that’s twice as absorbent.

White:

Oil-Only – Repels water-based fluids (hydrophobic), which makes it float. Soaks up oil and hydrocarbon fluids. Ideal for outdoor use. Made with 100% polypropylene.

Yellow:

Hazmat – Similar to universal but soaks up ALL spills including aggressive chemicals, battery acid, oil-based and water-based liquids. The yellow pad color indicates that it is used when absorbing hazardous chemicals to ensure proper safety handling and disposal compliance.* Made with 100% polypropylene.

Choosing the Right Shape

Spills don’t discriminate. They can happen in even the most inconvenient places. That’s why Sellars offers a variety of shapes and sizes for any area. After the user understands what color to use for their substance and space, they can next select what shape is best for where it is being used.

Sorbent Pads:

Every industrial plant, machine shop and maintenance shop should have sorbent pads on-hand. Available in universal, oil-only and hazmat; light, medium and heavy duty, sorbent pads are easy to use and soak up drips and spills fast. Sellars sorbent pads are perforated down the middle to make them easy to tear without cutting.

Sorbent Rolls:

Roll out a safer spill control solution with sorbent rolls. Designed to be placed alongside walk-ways to prevent slip-and-falls from equipment leaks, drips or spills. Sorbent rolls and smaller split-rolls are available in universal, oil-only and hazmat and come perforated to be sized to your needs.

Sorbent Socks:

A sorbent sock provides moldability, which can be used to create a barrier that quickly corals and prevents spills from spreading, avoiding slip-and-falls. Sellars sorbents socks are available in 4ft, 8ft and 12ft lengths with a 3in diameter. Each is a grey, universal sorbent that can soak up oil, water, diesel fuel, grease, transmission fluid, coolants and many other fluids.

Sorbent Booms:

Booms are like socks, only larger and are available in 5ft and 8ft oil-only (white). The end of each boom is secured using a steel clamp. To contain very large spills, multiple booms can be linked together using a durable metal connector. Thanks to their large diameter and ability to float on water, booms are commonly used to contain and clean up marine oil spills.

Sellars sorbent products come in a variety of colors, shapes and capacities to absorb most any oil, water or gas spill quickly and safely. Still unsure what product shape is best for your needs, contact the Sellars team.

*If you’re seeking products to comply with the code of regulations, click here.