What is Green Stuff® Absorbent made from?
The material is a thermal-set plastic made from a phenolic resin compound with an open cell matrix. Green Stuff® is not mineral based.
Is the Product Hydrophobic or Hydrophilic?
Both. Green Stuff® Absorbent granular products are hydrophilic. This means Green Stuff® will absorb water-based liquids and hydrocarbon-based liquids. However, part # 219 is a hydrophobic floating pad which absorbs a full half gallon of oil from the surface of water.
Green Stuff is very effective in “de-watering” large quantities of oily water.
What type of liquids can Green Stuff Absorb?
Green Stuff® Absorbent can absorb literally ANY chemical except cyanide based plating solutions, decomposable peroxides, and concentrated (40+%) nitric acid. (Industrial strength bleach must simply be diluted with water to less than 9%). Green Stuff® can absorb any viscosity liquid from thick sludge and paint to light solvents and water. Green Stuff® will absorb synthetic motor oil, antifreeze, vegetable oils, pipe dope, non fibrous roofing tar, roscotes, drilling mud, polymer floculants and friction reducers, turpentine and hydrofluoric acid and is also particularly effective in absorbing body fluids.
How much liquid will Green Stuff® absorb?
Green Stuff® Absorbent products will typically absorb between 18-32 times more liquid than clay based kitty litter depending on the viscosity and weight of the liquid. A good rule to follow is 1.25 pounds of Green Stuff® to 1 gallon of liquid. A remarkable exception is for polymers, where the ratio is 1.0 pounds of Green Stuff per gallon of polymer. A clay-type product (like kitty litter) takes at least of 40 pounds to fully absorb 1 gallon of liquid. To fully absorb, as Green Stuff does, means to absorb all the liquid and not leave a messy and unsafe smear.
How fast does Green Stuff® Absorbent absorb liquid?
Independent tests have shown Green Stuff® Absorbent to be the fastest absorbent on the market. Tests were conducted on a variety of liquids and viscosities including gasoline, diesel fuel, oil, paint and water, finding Green Stuff® to be on average 5 times faster.
Why is fast absorbency important?
The most important reason is SAFETY. The quicker a spill can be contained and absorbed, the less chance of physical harm or environmental contamination, and cleanup costs are minimized. Fast absorption also reduces vapors and minimizes harmful chemical effects. Green Stuff reduces vapors 97% because the liquid is captured in the granules and not available to the air, thereby preventing vapors.
Why is the light weight of Green Stuff® beneficial?
Green Stuff’s light weight makes it easy to handle, easy to apply, easy to clean up and easy to dispose of. This also makes for less waste generated which reduces overall cleanup costs. Nine pounds of Green Stuff® does the equivalent work of about 200 pounds of clay-type products. Disposal costs using Green Stuff will be reduced at least 75-90% compared with clay absorbents.
Because Green Stuff® Absorbent is so light weight, will I have problems using it in windy conditions?
Highly absorbent light weight products will have some dusting, including Green Stuff® Absorbent. Green Stuff® overcomes this by being extremely fast acting. The light weight allows the user to apply a small amount much closer to the spill. Green Stuff® immediately picks up weight from the liquid and only a small amount will blow away. Fire fighters quickly figured out that the best technique for using Green Stuff in the wind is to stand on the upwind side of the spill, put their push broom on the downwind side, apply Green Stuff onto the spill and into the head of the broom and then pull the broom toward themselves. If some does blow away, it is not a problem because Green Stuff is non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, and non-abrasive. In a few days in the sunlight, it even turns brown. Heavier absorbents like clay based products have 20-25% fine particles that include silica dust, a known carcinogen.
Can Green Stuff® Absorbent be land filled?
Yes. Green Stuff® Absorbent passes all EPA tests for both non-hazardous and hazardous landfills. Green Stuff® is non-biodegradable and will not leach out any hazardous chemicals into a landfill.
Can Green Stuff® Absorbent be incinerated?
Yes. Green Stuff® Absorbent can be incinerated and, with post incineration ash content of less than 1%, there is virtually nothing to send to a landfill.
Can Green Stuff® Absorbent be fuel-blended?
Yes. Green Stuff® will allow fuel blending as it will not clog filters and contains about 12,000 BTUs per pound.
What are the benefits of fuel blending over other types of disposal?
Fuel blending is a waste-to-energy recycling program that has no long-term liability, as with other forms of waste disposal. Fuel blending costs are lower than other forms of disposal and with Green Stuff’s high BTU content, waste turns from a liability into a power generator.
Is Green Stuff® Absorbent packaged in other than a bailed form?
Yes. Green Stuff® Absorbent can be packaged in emergency spill kits, easy to use plastic bottles, barrels, socks, pillows and other customized options.
How can I avoid workers using too much Green Stuff® Absorbent when they only need a small amount?
Green Stuff® Absorbent is much lighter than clay based absorbents which will allow workers to get closer to the spill and apply directly on to it. Users will quickly learn that a little goes a long way. One and a quarter pounds of Green Stuff® will absorb, on average, a gallon of liquid. Experience tells us that when its 100 degrees outside, workers much prefer to use Green Stuff and get the job done fast. Workers who waste the product are quickly corrected by coworkers who don’t want to go “back to the old days” of pushing kitty litter around for hours in the hot sun.
Is it harmful to breathe Green Stuff® Absorbent?
While any material with dust can be an irritant, Green Stuff® Absorbent does not contain toxic silica dust (as do clay and sand products). Silica dust exposure can cause Silicosis,disabling and sometimes fatal disease. Green Stuff will make you sneeze, so use a mask if not in a well ventilated area.
Does Green Stuff® Absorbent suppress vapors?
Green Stuff® Absorbent significantly suppresses vapors because it encapsulates most of the spill; however, it is not recommended solely for use as a vapor suppressant. Green Stuff® Absorbent will significantly reduce the smell of jet fuel and biodiesel.
Will it hurt my skin if I get it on me?
No. Green Stuff® Absorbent alone has no irritating effect on the skin. Protective gloves should always be worn when using any absorbent to deal with hazardous materials.
Will Green Stuff® Absorbent work on biofuels?
Yes. Green Stuff® Absorbent is fully functional on all biofuels including all ranges of biodiesel. It is safe to use, whereas clay type absorbents are very unsafe to use on biofuels.