What absorbents are for: absorbents soak up liquids that leak or drip in a plant, and they come in three colours: white absorbs oil only, not water; grey is universal; yellow is for chemicals. This page covers grey (universal absorbent) and yellow (chemical absorbent, also called acid absorbent) in four forms: sheets, rolls, socks and pillows. For white oil-only absorbents, see the industrial oil absorbent page. Some people also call the grey universal type an oil absorbent; the white type absorbs oil only, and the yellow type is for chemicals.
How the three colours differ
| Colour | Liquids it absorbs |
|---|---|
| White (oil absorbent) | Oil only, not water: floating oil, oil leaks |
| Grey (universal, this page) | Universal: oil, coolant and water-based liquids |
| Yellow (chemical, this page) | Chemicals: acids, alkalis and other corrosive liquids (acid and alkali resistant) |
Options
| Type | Colour | Size / pack |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet | Grey (universal) | 40 × 50 cm, 2 mm thick (10 sheets) |
| Sheet | Yellow (chemical) | 40 × 50 cm, 2 mm thick (10 sheets) |
| Sheet | Yellow (chemical) | 30 × 40 cm, 2 mm thick (50 sheets) |
| Sheet | Yellow (chemical) | 40 × 50 cm, 2 mm thick (50 sheets) |
| Sheet | Grey (universal) | 40 × 50 cm, 2 mm thick (100 sheets / box) |
| Sheet | Yellow (chemical) | 40 × 50 cm, 2 mm thick (100 sheets / box) |
| Sheet | Grey (universal) | 40 × 50 cm, 3 mm thick (100 sheets / box) |
| Sheet | Yellow (chemical) | 40 × 50 cm, 3 mm thick (100 sheets / box) |
| Sheet | Grey (universal) | 40 × 50 cm, 4 mm thick (100 sheets / box) |
| Sheet | Yellow (chemical) | 40 × 50 cm, 4 mm thick (100 sheets / box) |
| Sheet | Grey (universal) | 40 × 50 cm, 5 mm thick (100 sheets / box) |
| Sheet | Yellow (chemical) | 40 × 50 cm, 5 mm thick (100 sheets / box) |
| Roll | Grey (universal) | 40 cm × 50 m, 2 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Roll | Yellow (chemical) | 40 cm × 50 m, 2 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Roll | Grey (universal) | 40 cm × 50 m, 3 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Roll | Yellow (chemical) | 40 cm × 50 m, 3 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Roll | Grey (universal) | 40 cm × 50 m, 4 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Roll | Yellow (chemical) | 40 cm × 50 m, 4 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Roll | Grey (universal) | 40 cm × 50 m, 5 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Roll | Yellow (chemical) | 40 cm × 50 m, 5 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Roll | Grey (universal) | 40 cm × 30 m, 3 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Roll | Grey (universal) | 80 cm × 50 m, 2 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Roll | Grey (universal) | 80 cm × 50 m, 3 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Roll | Grey (universal) | 80 cm × 50 m, 4 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Roll | Grey (universal) | 80 cm × 50 m, 5 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Roll | Grey (universal) | 80 cm × 30 m, 3 mm thick (1 roll) |
| Sock | Grey (universal) | Ø7.6 cm × 1.2 m (1 sock) |
| Sock | Yellow (chemical) | Ø7.6 cm × 1.2 m (1 sock) |
| Sock | Grey (universal) | Ø7.6 cm × 3 m (1 sock) |
| Sock | Yellow (chemical) | Ø7.6 cm × 3 m (1 sock) |
| Sock | Grey (universal) | Ø7.6 cm × 5 m (1 sock) |
| Sock | Yellow (chemical) | Ø7.6 cm × 5 m (1 sock) |
| Sock | Grey (universal) | Ø12.7 cm × 3 m (1 sock) |
| Pillow | Grey (universal) | 40 × 50 cm (1 pillow) |
| Pillow | Yellow (chemical) | 40 × 50 cm (1 pillow) |
| Pillow | Grey (universal) | 20 × 25 cm (1 pillow) |
| Pillow | Yellow (chemical) | 20 × 25 cm (1 pillow) |
How to choose
- Colour: if you are not sure what the liquid is, or it is an acid, alkali or other corrosive liquid, choose yellow; for ordinary oils, coolant and water-based liquids, grey is enough.
- Sheets: lay under machines or on the floor, or wipe up directly.
- Rolls: cut to the length you need.
- Socks: surround and stop a spill from spreading.
Acid and alkali resistance and use notes
- The yellow chemical absorbent is marked as acid and alkali resistant. Whether it can be used for a given liquid should be confirmed against that liquid’s safety data sheet (SDS); ask us if in doubt.
- Used absorbents contain the absorbed liquid; dispose of them according to your plant’s waste rules.
Common questions
What is the difference between grey and yellow absorbents? Grey is universal (oil, coolant, water-based liquids); yellow is for chemicals such as acids and alkalis.
Which absorbent should I use if I do not know the liquid? Yellow; then confirm against the liquid’s SDS.
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