Sorbents

Q: Can I use a universal sorbent on acids or bases?

No. Universal polypropylene resists most non-aggressive chemicals but will break down with strong acids, caustics, or oxidizers. Use yellow chemical sorbents for any acid, base, or unknown aggressive liquid. The cost difference is small. The consequence of a wrong choice is a fire or off-gassing event.

Q: How fast does a sorbent pad absorb?

Polypropylene meltblown sorbents absorb most of their capacity in 30-90 seconds for thin liquids like water or solvents, and 2-5 minutes for viscous oils. Heavier-weight bonded pads are slower but hold more per square inch. For fast-moving spills, dike with socks first and use pads to wipe up the residue.

Q: When do I throw a sorbent out?

When it's saturated, dripping, or starting to release the absorbed liquid back to the floor. Used petroleum-saturated sorbents are typically classified as non-hazardous oily waste under most state rules but check your local solid-waste authority. Used chemical sorbents from acids, bases, or listed hazardous chemicals must be disposed of as hazardous waste under the same RCRA classification as the original spill.

Q: How do I size sorbent inventory for a facility?

Match capacity to the largest single container you store. A facility with 55-gallon drums needs at least 55 gallons of sorbent capacity at hand. EPA SPCC plans require enough sorbent to contain the largest expected spill. For routine maintenance, plan one bale of universal pads (17-30 gal capacity) per 5,000 sq ft of working floor. See our hazmat spill kit selection guide for fleet and DOT-driven sizing rules, and spill kits for pre-packaged response bundles.

15 products in this collection ↓

Absorbent pads, rolls, socks, booms, and granular products for cleaning up oil, water-based, and chemical spills. Sorbents are the front line for routine drips, equipment leaks, and the kind of working-floor mess that doesn't justify a full kit response.

Sorbent chemistry

Three product families color-coded for clarity:

Type	Color	Picks up	Repels	Use when
Oil-only	White	Petroleum, fuels, oils, lubricants, hydrocarbons	Water	Outdoor spills, around storm drains, on water surfaces, where universal would soak up rain
Universal (Maintenance)	Gray	Water, oil, coolant, solvents, non-aggressive chemicals	Nothing	General shop, vehicle bays, indoor spaces, anywhere the spill is non-aggressive
Chemical / HazMat	Yellow	Acids, bases, unknown aggressive liquids	Nothing — but won't degrade	Lab, plating, battery rooms, anywhere acid or caustic is in play

Format guide

Pads are the daily driver: 15"x18" or 17"x19" sheets in lightweight, medium, or heavy weight. Lightweight pads absorb roughly 17 gallons per 100-pad bale and tear easily for small wipe-downs. Heavyweight bonded pads absorb up to 30 gallons per bale and survive being walked on or wrung out.

Rolls are pads in continuous form, 30" or 38" wide by 120 to 150 feet long, perforated for tear-off. Use under leaking equipment or as walkway runners in maintenance areas. One heavyweight roll replaces ten bales of pads for high-volume areas.

Socks (SOCs) are 3"x4' or 3"x12' filled tubes that dike around a leak, build a perimeter under a drum, or block a doorway. Universal socks are the most-stocked item in any maintenance closet.

Booms are larger socks (5" to 8" diameter, 5 to 20 feet long) for outdoor use: water surface containment, larger ground spills, equipment yards.

Granular absorbents (diatomaceous earth, clay, expanded perlite) sweep into low spots and fine cracks where pads can't reach. Slower than pads but the only option for textured concrete or gravel.

Bonded vs single-ply

Bonded pads are heat-laminated layers of meltblown polypropylene with a bonded surface that holds together when soaked and lifted. Single-ply pads are cheaper but tear when wet and shed fibers. For anything other than light maintenance wipe-down, bonded is worth the extra cost.