Absorbs oil, not water
Industrial oil sorbents (also called oil-only pads or oil absorbent mats) are made from polypropylene (PP) fibers, which attract oil and repel water. Lay them on the floor or under machines, or float them on water, and they pick up only the oil. Typical uses in plants are cleaning up hydraulic leaks, floating oil on coolant tanks and oil collected in sumps. This page offers pads, rolls, booms, pillows and sorbent mats. For coolant, water-based liquids or acid and alkali chemicals, please ask about our universal and chemical sorbents.
Specifications
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Property | Oil only, repels water |
| Material | Polypropylene (PP) |
| Color | White |
| Forms | Pads, rolls, booms, pillows, sorbent mats |
Forms and sizes
| Form | Size | Thickness | Packing | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pads (plain, dimpled composite) | 30 × 40, 40 × 50, 43 × 48, 50 × 50 cm | 2–5 mm | 1 sheet, 10, 50, 100 or 200 pads per pack / carton | Lay under machines or on floors, or wipe directly |
| Rolls | Width 40 or 80 cm, length 30 or 50 m | 2–5 mm | 1 roll | Cut to length for walkways or large areas |
| Booms | Diameter 7.6, 12.7 or 20 cm, length 1.2–10 m | — | 1 piece | Surround a leak or a small area of floating oil to limit spreading |
| Pillows | 20 × 25, 40 × 50 cm | — | 1 piece | Sorbent packed in pillow form |
| Sorbent mats (PP-1, PP-2) | 1 × 1 m, or by weight 10 or 20 kg | — | Per sheet or by weight | PP-1 and PP-2 are model numbers; differences on request |
Sizes, thicknesses and packing are as listed in the product options.
Where to use
| Location | Use |
|---|---|
| Sumps and drains in plants | Oil or coolant grease leaking from machines and collecting on the floor |
| Around hydraulic equipment | Quick absorption of small hydraulic leaks |
| Cooling water tanks and reservoirs | Routine removal and emergency response for floating oil |
| Oil pits and wastewater pre-treatment | First separation of oil and water before treatment equipment |
How to choose
| Color | What it absorbs |
|---|---|
| White (this page) | Oil only, not water: floating oil, oil spills |
| Gray (universal sorbents) | Oil, coolant and water-based liquids |
| Yellow (chemical sorbents) | Acids, alkalis and other corrosive liquids |
- Pads: lay under machines or on floors, or wipe directly.
- Rolls: cut to the length you need.
- Booms: contain and stop spreading.
FAQ
What are the sorbent pads made of? Polypropylene (PP) fibers. Polypropylene is oleophilic and hydrophobic: oil is held by the fibers while water does not easily enter, so the pads can pick up floating oil from a water surface. The US EPA and ITOPF both state that oil sorbents must be both oleophilic and hydrophobic, and polypropylene is a common synthetic sorbent.
How do I dispose of used sorbents? Sorbents soaked with oil must be disposed of according to local regulations and your plant’s waste rules. In some areas, oil-soaked sorbents may be classed as hazardous waste — please check with the local authority or your waste contractor.
Sources: US EPA, Sorbents; ITOPF Technical Information Paper 8, Use of Sorbent Materials in Oil Spill Response.
When you request a quote, please tell us: form, size, thickness, packing and quantity.
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