Choosing the right absorbent

Spills on Hard Surfaces
Oil Spills on Soil or Shorelines
Oil Spills on Water

Choosing the right spill response kit

Need some help?

Today, spill response, and the resultant waste to be disposed of, are governed by regulations to protect both people and the environment.  Compliance with these regulations is generally met through the use of commercial absorbents or spill response kits.  Kits should contain: high performance absorbents, personal protective equipment, written response procedures/guidelines and accessories to ensure proper storage and disposal of spill wastes.  

 
Enretech offer a range of spill response products that comply with current legislation and Australian Standards, helping you:

  • Meet your legal requirements: ensure your Environmental “due diligence”, as well as your OH&S “duty of care”
  • Reduce your spill clean-up costs
  • Meet your Environment Management Plan for waste reduction, increased use of recycled materials and use of products with a low carbon footprint.


Know Your Risks and How to Deal with a Spill Safely

You must conduct a risk assessment of your operations to determine the types and volumes of liquids you may spill, and what type of absorbents and spill kits you’ll need to clean them up safely and cost-effectively.

Use the following charts to determine the best Enretech absorbents or spill kits for your particular workplace.


Choosing the right absorbent (also available as pdf)

Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Liquids 

Spills on Hard Surfaces (Sealed or Unsealed)

 KleenSweep BettaClean Oil Only: Pads, Socks & Pillows Universal: Pads, Socks & Pillows

Fuels & Lubes

 First Choice with colour edge   First Choice with colour edge second choice

Hydraulic Fluids

 First Choice no colour edge   First Choice no colour edge second choice with white edges

Coolants

 second choice second choice   First Choice with colour edge

Common Acids & Alkalis
(photo & pool chemicals, etc.)

  second choice with white edges     First Choice no colour edge

Concentrated Acids & Alkalis
(lab strength chemicals, etc..)

 Use Enretech HazChem Absorbents Only

Solvents
(ketones, halocarbons, alcohols, etc.)

 First Choice no colour edge second choice with white edges First Choice no colour edge second choice with white edges

Paints (oil based)

First Choice with colour edge

 

First Choice with colour edge

second choice

Paints (water based)

second choice with white edges

 

 

First Choice no colour edge

Drying Oils (linseed, pine oil, etc.) (1)

 First Choice with colour edge   First Choice with colour edge second choice

Pesticides (solvent based)

 First Choice no colour edge   First Choice no colour edge second choice with white edges

Pesticides (water based)

second choice

second choice

 

First Choice with colour edge

Vegetable Oils or Animal Fats (liquid)

First Choice no colour edge

 

First Choice no colour edge

second choice with white edges

Water based Compounds
(ie: detergents, foods, etc.)

 second choice second choice   First Choice with colour edge

Pharmaceuticals / Drugs

 second choice with white edges First Choice no colour edge   First Choice no colour edge

Body Fluids
(blood, urine, vomit, etc) (2)

 second choice First Choice with colour edge   second choice
         
 

Dangerous Goods Liquids

        

Class 3 - Flammable Liquids

  First Choice with colour edge  second choice  First Choice with colour edge  second choice

Class 5 - Oxidising Substances (3)

     Use Enretech HazChem Absorbents Only

Class 6 - Toxic & Infectious Substances

  second choice  First Choice with colour edge    First Choice with colour edge

Class 8 - Corrosive Substances (acid or alkali)

  second choice with white edges  second choice with white edges    First Choice no colour edge

Class 9 - Misc. Dangerous Goods

  First Choice with colour edge  second choice    First Choice with colour edge
         
Oil Spills on Soil or Shorelines

Use Enretech-1 to bioremediate the contamination in-situ, or excavate the contaminated soil and treat via ex-situ biofarm. Refer to the Enretech-1 bioremediation section of this webpage for more information.
         
Oil Spills on Water

Absorb floating oil using Cellusorb as a loose particulate, or in the form of “Oil Only” absorbent socks, pillows or booms. For larger spill areas, use “Oil Only” cotton pads instead of loose particulate Cellusorb.

 
Health, safety & environmental risks from Dangerous Goods Liquids can vary considerably. In general, Enretech sorbents can be used for many DG Liquids, however seek help for all spills involving Packing Group I DG Liquids. Contact Enretech Australasia (0425 232 741) for further technical assistance, as required.

Notes: (1) Drying oils can have high risk of spontaneous combustion. Take appropriate precautions. (2) Body fluid spills have potential health risks associated with them. Take appropriate precautions. (3) Compounds classed as Oxidisers by ADG and GHS systems should not come into contact with organic materials of any kind. When used for liquid spill clean-up, sorbents tend to take on the characteristics of the liquid they have absorbed. Thus, always consult the MSDS of the spilled liquid prior to absorption with Enretech sorbents.

 

 

Choosing the right spill response kit (also available as pdf) [TOP]

Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Liquids

 Oils & Fuels
Spill Kits		 Universal & Compact Spill Kits HazChem
Spill Kit		 BettaClean
Spill Kit

Fuels & Lubes

 First Choice with colour edge  second choice    

Hydraulic Fluids

 First Choice no colour edge second choice with white edges    

Coolants

 second choice First Choice with colour edge second choice second choice

Common Acids & Alkalis
(photo & pool chemicals, etc.)

   second choice with white edges First Choice no colour edge  

Concentrated Acids & Alkalis
(lab strength chemicals, etc..)

     First Choice with colour edge  

Solvents
(ketones, halocarbons, alcohols, etc.)

 First Choice no colour edge second choice with white edges   second choice with white edges

Paints (oil based)

First Choice with colour edge

second choice

 

 

Paints (water based)

second choice with white edges

First Choice no colour edge

second choice with white edges

second choice with white edges

Drying Oils (linseed, pine oil, etc.) (1)

 First Choice with colour edge second choice    

Pesticides (solvent based)

 First Choice no colour edge second choice with white edges    

Pesticides (water based)

second choice

First Choice with colour edge

second choice

second choice

Vegetable Oils or Animal Fats (liquid)

First Choice no colour edge

second choice with white edges

 

second choice with white edges

Water based Compounds
(ie: detergents, foods, etc.)

 second choice First Choice with colour edge second choice second choice

Pharmaceuticals / Drugs

 second choice with white edges First Choice no colour edge second choice with white edges First Choice no colour edge

Body Fluids
(blood, urine, vomit, etc) (2)

   second choice second choice First Choice with colour edge
         
 

Dangerous Goods Liquids

        

Class 3 - Flammable Liquids

  First Choice with colour edge second choice    

Class 5 - Oxidising Substances (3)

     First Choice no colour edge  

Class 6 - Toxic & Infectious Substances

   First Choice with colour edge second choice First Choice with colour edge

Class 8 - Corrosive Substances (acid or alkali)

   second choice with white edges First Choice no colour edge  

Class 9 - Misc. Dangerous Goods

  second choice First Choice with colour edge second choice First Choice with colour edge

 
Health, safety & environmental risks from Dangerous Goods Liquids can vary considerably. In general, Enretech spill kits can be used for many DG Liquids, however seek help for all spills involving Packing Group I DG Liquids. Contact Enretech Australasia (0425 232 741) for further technical assistance, as required.

Notes: (1) Drying oils can have high risk of spontaneous combustion. Take appropriate precautions. (2) Body fluid spills have potential health risks associated with them. Take appropriate precautions. (3) Compounds classed as Oxidisers by ADG and GHS systems should not come into contact with organic materials of any kind. When used for liquid spill clean-up, sorbents tend to take on the characteristics of the liquid they have absorbed. Thus, always consult the MSDS of the spilled liquid prior to absorption with Enretech sorbents.

 

Need some Help?  [TOP]

You must conduct an assessment of your operations to determine the types and volumes of liquids you will most likely use, handle, store, & potentially spill. Then, assess their potential health, safety & environmental risks.  Once you have this information, only then can you choose the best materials and equipment for controlling these risks.

If you’re not sure, we’d be happy to help. Use this form to list all those liquids in your workplace which, if spilled, you are not sure how to handle. Fax the completed form to us and we will offer our advice on the best absorbents and spill response kits to meet your particular situation.