Activated Peat vs Clay

Activated peat is a lightweight, biodegradable, natural adsorbent derived from peat moss, that is a highly effective solution for managing hydrocarbon spills.

Clay is a highly absorptive naturally occurring mineral, that has been the go-to for years for absorbing a wide variety of industrial spills.

Check out the video and comparison chart below to see why activated peat is a more effective and environmentally friendly solution than clay!

​Activated Peat	Clay
​Natural adsorbent derived from peat moss	Natural absorbent derived from Montmorillonite clay
​Easy to use – simply spread over spill	​Easy to use – simply spread over spill
​Ideal for oil spills, especially on water – not a good option for general spills	​Best for general spills on land that don’t involve oil
​Adsorbs & fully encapsulates hydrocarbons while repelling water	​Absorbs many liquids including hazardous liquids and water, but doesn’t really absorb hydrocarbons
​Highly adsorbent – adsorbs up to 10x more liquid (by weight) than clay	​Not near as absorbent
​Non-leaching	Leaches hydrocarbons & other liquids
​Non-hazardous & silica-free	Hazardous, and clay dust contains crystalline silica which is a known lung carcinogen
High vapor suppression – locks in vapor up to 90%	Low vapor suppression qualities
​Biodegradable	Not biodegradable
Soft granules	Larger & more abrasive granules – can scratch coated floors or machinery
​Easy to clean up & generates minimal waste	Messy & generates large amounts of waste
​Flammable, although helps to reduce waste as it is incinerable	Non-flammable so helps to prevent flash fires, although it creates more waste as it is not incinerable
​Non-reactive	​May react to some chemicals
​Lightweight product - easy to move & reduces shipping costs	Heavier product - more weight to lug around & more expensive to ship
Time-saving – adsorbs liquids quickly & is quick to clean up	Time-wasting – takes longer to absorb liquids & clean up the mess
​Cost-saving	Expensive – uses more product to be effective & waste disposal fees are high
​Available in loose form, or as pillows, socks or booms	Available in loose form, or as pillows, socks or booms

Ready to switch from clay to activated peat sorbents, or have further questions about activated peat? Reach out to us, we'd love to hear from you!