Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
As a particulate, the material is extremely dusty, and a dust respirator and
eye protection should be worn during its application.
3.
Expanded Mineral
The materials termed "expanded minerals" describe micafil or perlite and
vermiculite. These are naturally occurring materials composed of inorganic
components. These materials have also been used for many years to remediate
spills of aqueous and nonaqueous or oil-based chemicals.
These materials are incompatible with the following:
•
hydrazines and hydrazides
•
heavy metals
The sorption capacities range from 3.0 for amines, such as triethylamine,
to 7.1 and 8.1 for inorganic acids and inorganic halides, such as nitric acid and
phosphorus trichloride, respectively. Therefore, the sorption capacity of
expanded minerals is far superior to that of clay and diatomite. However, this
material is more expensive than clay but cheaper than diatomite.
Micafil/perlite can be purchased for approximately $0.12/lb to $0.31/lb and
vermiculite for approximately $0.14/lb, depending upon supplier and quantity
ordered.
As a particulate the material is not dusty, and a dust respirator is not
mandatory but still recommended. However, eye protection should be worn
during its application.
4.
Foamed Glass (amorphous silica)
This is a natural inorganic material composed of off-white, free-flowing
granules. This material is very light and can adsorb large quantities of spilled
liquid. This material has also been used in recent years to remediate spills of
aqueous and nonaqueous or oil-based chemicals.
Foamed glass is incompatible with:
•
hydrofluorosilic acid
•
hydrazines and hydrazides
•
heavy metals
The sorption capacity of foamed glass products ranges from 6.7 for
ketones such as methyl isobutyl ketone to 15.2 for nitric acid. Therefore the
sorption capacity of foamed glass is very good, and the foamed glass is one of
the best materials for spill remediation. It is also available in several forms
besides a particulate, such as pillows, dikes, and booms. However, this
material is more expensive, approximately $3.00/lb for the particulate form
and $3.20-4.40/lb for pillows, depending upon supplier and quantity ordered.
