Oil Only Absorbents

1 product

Oils can be tough to deal with and clean up. With these oil-only absorbents, however, the job can be much easier. These absorbents are useful to have on-hand to clean up spilled motor oil, brake fluid, cooking oil, and more.


Make sure that you’re using the right tools for different kinds of spills. TRADESAFE’s oil-only absorbents are made of premium materials and are highly reliable when it comes to liquid spill management.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are oil absorbents?

Oil-only absorbents are absorbents that are made specifically for absorbing oil-based liquids. These absorbents can come in the form of absorbent pads, pillows, and socks. They’re also made of hydrophobic and oleophilic materials, which means that they won’t be able to work on water-based liquids, but will be able to soak up oil-based liquids.

Is an absorbent enough to clean up an oil spill?

This depends on the amount of oil spilled. Typically, an absorbent made of synthetic materials can absorb up to about 70 times its weight in liquid. Absorbents can contain spills of a manageable size, but larger spills will need the involvement of other cleanup methods.

What polymer absorbs oil?

Oil-only absorbents are typically made of a kind of polymer, a synthetic material. Polypropylene is a common material used in oil-only absorbents because of its hydrophobic and oleophilic properties. Other oil-absorbing polymers include polyurethane and polyethylene.

How do you clean up an oil spill on land?

Given its name, oil-only absorbents can only absorb oil and fuel, NOT water. Oil-only pads are ideal for soaking up and containing liquid spills and drips. You use oil-only pillows to contain mass oil leakage and persistent drips. To avoid the further spread of an oil spill, use oil-only socks to contain it in a small area.

Can I use oil-only absorbents in any type of liquid spills?

It depends on the size of the absorbent material you are going to use. For your reference, here is a current list of TRADESAFE Oil-Only Absorbents, their dimensions, and absorbency per piece:

  • Pads,  15” x 19”: 0.6 L (20 oz.)
  • Pillows, 18" x 18": 7.5 L (2 gal)
  • Socks
  • 3” x 4’: 5.25 L (1.4 gal)
  • 3” x 8’: 10.55 L (2.75 gal)
  • 3” x 12’: 15.75 L (4.15 gal)
  • 3-Layer Roll: 288 L (76 gallons)

How much liquid can TRADESAFE Oil-Only Absorbents absorb?

Yes. All TRADESAFE Oil-Only Absorbents can absorb diesel, fuel, and other oils.

Do TRADESAFE Oil Absorbent Socks also work for diesel and fuel?

Yes. Their high-quality fiber construction does not leave any fiber or lint residue after use.

Are TRADESAFE Oil-Only Absorbents lint free?

TRADESAFE recommends you use oil-only absorbent socks to block leaking liquids around a machine. They can act as a fence to stop the spill from further spreading. If the machine in question also spills water, it will be better to use universal absorbent socks so that they soak up both water and oil.

Which oil-only absorbent is most appropriate for blocking leaks on a machine?

No. It is designed to remain afloat even in full-saturation status. This is why it is ideal to be used on cleaning up oil spills on any body of water.

If an oil-only absorbent reaches its maximum absorption capacity, will it sink?

No. It is designed to remain afloat even in full-saturation status. This is why it is ideal to be used on cleaning up oil spills on any body of water.
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