Clay Spill Absorbents
OIL-DRI® Premium Absorbent
Granular Absorbents
Issue: Potential safety hazards are present where leaks, drips, sprays or spills occur.
Solution: A spill control plan with absorbent products readily available to control daily leaks and spills.
Description: Our premium clay absorbents undergo a superior moisture extraction process that increases absorption power and minimizes dust. Oil-Dri Premium Absorbent is available in two types of packaging: poly bags and paper bags. Our paper bags are constructed of high performance multi-wall grade papers and our poly bags are made of heavy duty polyethylene.
Benefits:
- Versatile: Use for all non-aggressive fluids
- Superior Retention: Holds liquids in
- Strong: Won't breakdown and turn to mud
- Virtually Dust Free: Lower airborne contamination
- Low Density: More scoops per pound saves money
Disposal Information
- Oil-Dri products must be disposed of in compliance with local, state and federal regulations. Since various fluids absorbed may be of toxic or hazardous in nature, Oil-Dri does not recommend disposal procedures.
To order any of the ice melt products listed or obtain additional information please contact us.
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Oil-Dri Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is your granular absorbent made of?
Oil-Dri’s owns and operates clay mining & manufacturing facilities in several States in the U.S. Our granular Floor Absorbent products are manufactured from several different varieties of clay, a natural earth mineral. The different varieties we manufacture are also frequently referred to as Fuller’s Earth. One product produced by our Canadian sister company, Oil-Dri Canada, is clay blended with another natural mineral (a proprietary ingredient) due to Canadian regulatory requirements. With the exception of our Canadian produced product, mentioned above, the Floor Absorbent products are 100% natural kiln dried clay and have nothing added to them.
2. Are Oil-Dri granular absorbents considered a Hazardous Material?
No, clay Floor Absorbent is not a hazardous (Hazmat) or harmful material and it is not regulated. Our packaging contains a warning required by Government regulation, because clay (regardless of the manufacturer) contains silica, the same earth mineral of which sand is comprised. At certain levels, silica dust particles have been determined in laboratory tests, to be a possible carcinogenic material; but laboratory testing has also shown that under normal use conditions, the level of silica dust in the clays we mine and manufacture, is far below the level set by OSHA (Office of Safety & Health Administration) as the point where it should be considered a health risk. Most of the clay granular absorbent production processes involve some crushing of the dried clay to produce the smaller particles; consequently there is generally some clay dust content. If you are sensitive to any type of dust, or subject to respiratory irritation, you may want to wear a facial breathing filter, like a “painters mask”, while handling the material. Those can be found in most any hardware, home improvement or general merchandise store that sells painting supplies and equipment.
3. How much will a 40 lb. bag of Oil-Dri absorb?
As a general “rule of thumb”, a 40 pound bag (our most popular size) of standard clay floor absorbent material will absorb between 3.5 and 4.5 gallons of fluid. The variation depends on the viscosity of the fluid (whether it is thick like syrup or thin like water).
4. How do I use Oil-Dri granular clay absorbents?
Tough questions…and there is no absolute answer. It’s sort of “as much and as long as it takes”. Start with a small quantity, enough to cover the spilled or leaked fluid, and allow it to start absorbing. When it starts to look saturated or wet, keep adding absorbent material until all of the fluid has been absorbed. It’s also a good idea at that point to mix it up with a stiff broom or grind withh aa shovel, letting granules that have not absorbed anything to come in contact with fluids that have not been absorbed. Once it looks like it has been, you’re ready to clean it up for disposal.
5. How do I dispose of Oil-Dri absorbents?
We do not give recommendations for disposing of used material. The disposal requirements are usually governed by the type of fluid that has been absorbed. Regulations for the disposal of many types of fluids, like oils and antifreeze (considered groundwater contaminants) can vary from state to state and even from one municipality to another. You should contact officials in your municipality, the local or state offices of the EPA…or a good starting point might be the owners/operators of your local landfill/waste disposal sites who should be familiar with the basics and could advise you on what offices or agencies to contact for specific information.
6. Does your granular product have a shelf life?
As a natural earth mineral (clay), if the packages are stored in a normal, dry or climate controlled environment, like the earth itself, the material will last indefinitely. If left exposed to the environment or allowed to get wet, they may over time absorb humidity or fluid that contacts the material, which could inhibit the product’s effectiveness.
7. Can I buy from you directly?
Oil-Dri is an industrial mining and manufacturing company and only sells the Industrial and Automotive use products to distributors and major retailers, for resale purposes.
8. Where can I buy your products?
For information on distributors & retailers in your area who carry our absorbent products, please call our Customer Service section at 800-645-3747. Between Customer Service and our Sales department, we will get you as close to a source as possible.
9. I spilled cooking oil in my kitchen and when I used it to clean it up, the granules got hot. Is it dangerous?
Oil-Dri’s bags & packaging for clay absorbent products contains a printed warning against using it with certain types of fluids. Among those are any kind of vegetable oil, turpentine, hydrofluoric fluids and biodiesel fuels (including Ethanol). The mixing of any type of dried clay with these and other certain types of fluids (called “unsaturated organic compounds”) may result in the generation of heat. It is not a “chemical reaction”. Without getting too technical, some types of fluid with very strong molecular bonds generate heat as they “evaporate”. Because clay is a natural insulator, when it is piled up or placed in a closed container after absorbing those fluids, it may not allow the heat to dissipate. Cases have been reported where the used material with one of these absorbed fluids, was placed in a trash receptacle with some other type of waste material which had a low flash point, which resulted in a fire. Please note the package warnings and if you have more questions, call us at 800-645-3747.
10. Can I use your granular product in the bottom of my grill or to mix with my potting soil?
Yes…! Oil-Dri granular clay absorbent material has numerous other practical uses besides just being placed on the floor to absorb leaks & spills. Among those are:
- Placing in the bottom of your grill to absorb grease & drippings from cooking
- Mixing with potting soil or other planting medium to improve water retention.
- To harden left over partial cans of paint to allow for proper disposal.
- As a bottom layer/liner in trash cans to help absorb some of that nasty smelly stuff that always ends up in the bottom (but you still have to clean it out occasionally).
- As a traction aid to help improve short term traction on driveways & walkways when conditions are icy or slippery (please note that it is NOT an “ice melt”, and if you leave it too long in wet conditions, or drive on it too much without cleaning it up or replacing it…it might get broken down & create mud…it IS clay…).
11. Can I use it for Cat Litter and will it hurt my Cat?
Technically, yes, you can use it for cat litter, and no, it will not harm your Cat. Most standard litter products, including all of those made by Oil-Dri, are produced from the same types of clay, a natural earth mineral. We do not recommend or market the Floor Absorbent products for use as a litter material because many of the true Cat Litter products have some type of fragrance, anti-bacterial agent or other (perfectly safe) additive blended with them to help inhibit the development of bacteria and unpleasant odors. They are the products Oil-Dri has developed to bring the greatest benefit to you and your pet (this is where we insert the plug for Cat’s Pride and Jonny Cat, Oil-Dri’s branded litter products).
12. My dog ate some that was on the floor of the garage. Will it hurt him/her?
No…the clay product will not hurt your pet. It might give them indigestion, but your concern should be whether the clay has absorbed any fluid that would hurt them. All of us who have both cats & dogs know that it is sometimes a challenge to keep your dog out of the cat’s litter box (they want the “crunchy treats”). As with the clay litter in the cat’s box, the absorbent alone will not hurt your pet. If there is a fluid involved that might be hazardous, please call your veterinarian or the local Poison Control emergency number for assistance.
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