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!