PRODUCTS > Aqua Sorb

Soil Hydration

For Pets

Forestry

MSDS

Aqua Sorb® is a cross-linked polymer, which only absorbs water-based or aqueous solutions. It is comprised solely of sodium polyacrylate. Particle size varies from ¼ inch to 45 microns in diameter. Aqua Sorb® has a physical appearance of a white Classified as a super-absorbent, Aqua Sorb® takes an aqueous solution from a liquid state to a semi-solid state that is a gel, not a completely solid waste mass.

The wide ranges of uses for Aqua Sorb® are in the agricultural, industrial and petrochemical areas. Applications for agriculture exist in lawn care, transplanting, water retention aid, seeding, hydro mulching, bare root shipping, gardening and soil conditioning. Industrial uses for Aqua Sorb® include water removal, water retention, fuel filters, thickening agents, water stop material, sludge dewatering aid, cold/hot pack media and battery acids. Within the petrochemical industry, the solidification of spills is its primary use.

Aqua Sorb® can absorb large quantities of water or aqueous solutions while retaining the liquid under pressure. The cross-linked polymers in Aqua Sorb® are insoluble in aqueous solutions and typically organic solvents. The hydrophobic nature of the product does not allow it to solublize in an aqueous medium. The gellation occurs from multiple hydrations of the lattice structure of the molecule; in layman's terms the water becomes part of the Aqua Sorb® molecule rather than the molecule becoming part of the water.

Aqua Sorb® is superior to many alternative methods because Aqua Sorb® does not significantly increase the volume of the spill and waste for disposal. It expands in volume by less than 1%. Disposal costs are subsequently less. Another characteristic of Aqua Sorb® is its capacity. As Aqua Sorb® is solvated, chains unfold and ionic repulsive forces expand its molecules, creating large absorption capacities. Typically absorption capacity will range from 150 to 1000 times on a weight to weight basis. Absorption speed depends on the nature of the aqueous solution being absorbed; it can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes for gellation to occur. Speed of absorption is a function of surface area and the degree and type of cross-linking. These factors also affect Aqua Sorb®'s gel strength. After using Aqua Sorb®, the absorbed fluid will slowly evaporate until it reaches a relatively dry state, depending on the humidity present. This dry material will again absorb water to the original level. The cycling phenomena will continue for several cycles; however, the absorbent capability of Aqua Sorb® diminishes with each use. 

Disposing of Aqua Sorb® is very simply explained. The liquid Aqua Sorb® absorbs is the determining factor in disposal. If the liquid is hazardous, as a good rule of thumb the gellation of the liquid and Aqua Sorb® is also hazardous in nature. Remember Aqua Sorb® simply takes the liquid into a gel state, so it changes the physical make up and not the chemical make up. Depending on the absorbed product, Aqua Sorb® maybe suitable for landfill purposes. If a hazardous waste is absorbed it must be disposed of in an appropriate hazardous waste landfill. Review of Federal, State and Local waste disposal regulations is essential to determine the appropriate disposal alternative.

Other advantages:

AQUA Sorb® :

þ   

Applications:

General spills, industrial facilities, sludge de-watering, medical facilities, classrooms, landfills, public transportation vehicles, flower shops, grocery stores, veterinary clinics and more!