| Do you need to clean up a lot of oil or other | | | | While oil absorbent booms are designed to be used on |
| hazardous liquid? Or are you afraid you might have to | | | | water, hazmat booms are intended for use on land. |
| -- if there is a spill? If so, absorbent booms might be | | | | They too can handle large volume spills. Unlike oil |
| just the ticket. There are two major kinds to choose | | | | absorbent booms, they absorb water-based fluids |
| from: oil absorbent booms, if the liquid is primarily | | | | along with oil, gas, coolants, diesel, hydraulic fluids, and |
| hydrocarbon based, or chemical hazmat booms, if the | | | | many more. They will also absorb ether, hexane, |
| liquid is particularly hazardous. | | | | acetone, vegetable oil, MEK, and trichloroethylene, and |
| Unlike non-absorbent booms, which are primarily used | | | | many other chemicals and liquids. They will not float on |
| to contain the liquid and prevent it from spreading, | | | | water, however. |
| absorbent booms are designed to do exactly what | | | | Oil absorbent booms which float on water are usually |
| their name indicates: absorb liquids. In order to do so, | | | | white in color. Hazmat booms which will not float on |
| they basically consist of a strong mesh outer sleeve | | | | water because they absorb all types of liquids must |
| and a poly skin that is stuffed with polypropylene. The | | | | be used for land spills only. Hazmat booms are usually |
| filler is highly absorbent and will not shed. Even better, | | | | yellow in color. Both types of booms are available in |
| the booms will not sink even when they are saturated | | | | diameters of 5 inches or 8 inches and in lengths of 10 |
| with oil -- since of course oil floats on water. And even | | | | foot or 20 foot sections. As stated above each |
| when the oil is contained inside the boom, it will still float, | | | | section is easy to connect together because of the |
| and thus the boom floats too. | | | | hardware included with each boom. |
| If there is a lot of oil to clean up, multiple booms will be | | | | Often companies are confused as to what type and |
| needed, which can be linked together. Specifically, they | | | | size of boom to purchase. That is why it is important |
| can be clipped together with connector hardware that | | | | to purchase your absorbent products from a company |
| is made out of carbon steel. They generally come with | | | | that has experts to help you decide which type of |
| a nylon rope as well, along with steel hardware. These | | | | absorbent boom to buy based upon your location and |
| ensure that they will be sturdy and can easily be | | | | the type of chemicals you are dealing with. If the |
| retrieved. If you have a spill that extends over a larger | | | | amount of chemicals you have are not that great, you |
| area, you can connect as many as you need in order | | | | may be able to purchase less costly absorbent socks |
| to contain it and clean it up. | | | | which come in 3 inch diameters. |