subject: Oil Absorbents To Prevent Environmental Damage [print this page] Oil absorbents are typically used to clean up spills in a particular environment. An oil spill is the spread of petroleum-bases substances into the environment. This is mostly due to human activity, and results in some form of pollution. Oil spills often occur in offshore platforms, drilling rigs and wells, and other industrial establishments which involve the use of large amounts of the substance. Dealing with oil spills can be done effectively with the use of absorbent pads.
Different oils are produced by using various types of chemical refining processes. The systems vary depending on the intended uses for the product. Fuel oils are a major energy source, used to power up machines, appliances, vehicles, and other mechanical equipment. These oils are used as fuel for engines, heaters, lamps, furnaces, or as solvents. Fuel oils usually differ from one another by their hydrocarbon compositions, boiling point ranges, chemical additives, and uses. A few of the most common types of fuel oils are kerosene, range oil, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and home heating oil.
Different types of oils react differently when they come into contact with other elements. In cases of chemical spills, the results vary as well. Some chemicals which are present in fuel oils may evaporate easily. There are others that dissolve quickly in water. Some other chemical components in fuel oils evaporate into the air through open containers, or in contaminated soil or water. There are components that may leak from underground storage tanks and dissolve in water supplies. Others may adhere to particles in water. This usually happens during chemical spills from industrial facilities. This may result in these fuel oil substances settling into the bottom sediment of large bodies of water.
The effects of oil spills can thus present great problems. Some chemicals present in fuel oils may be broken down slowly over time. This can happen by air, water, and soil, or by sunlight or small organisms. However, others can remain in a particular area for a long period of time. Moreover, some chemicals may build up significantly in plants and animals.
In a typical industrial facility, there is a high probability of dangerous accidents and oil spills that may occur at any given time. When responding to an oil spill, the immediate concern is to minimize the overall impact the spill may have on natural and economic resources. The various types of resources and their degree of importance will affect the kind of response options to be used. Moreover, the general impact of the oil spill would have to be determined as well.
The pursuit of maintaining safety, productivity and cleanliness in the workplace should remain a top priority for establishments. In this regard, DAWG has endeavored to provide products and services over the course of more than twenty years. From its beginnings as a small spill control company, DAWG has become a large multi-brand supplier of products which are specially made for industrial safety, personal protection and building maintenance. DAWG offers a variety of oil absorbents that provide security and protection specific to a particular establishment.