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Sorbents
Absorbents and adsorbents (referred to as "sorbents") are used in environmental, industrial, agricultural, medical, and scientific applications to retain liquids and gases. Absorbents incorporate substances throughout the body of the absorbing material, while adsorbents gather substances over the surface of the material. Sorbents can be manufactured using recovered paper, textiles, plastics, wood, and other materials. EPA's designation covers sorbents containing recovered materials for use in oil and solvent clean-ups and for use as animal bedding, although recycled-content sorbents can be used in other applications.
- Recommended Recovered Materials Content Ranges
- Product Specifications
- Product Information
- Additional Links
Recommended Recovered Materials Content Ranges:
EPA's Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN) recommends recycled-content levels for purchasing sorbents as shown in the table below.
| Material | Postconsumer Content (%) | Total Recovered Materials Content (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | 90-100 | 100 |
| Textiles | 95-100 | 95-100 |
| Plastics | -- | 25-100 |
| Wood 1 | -- | 100 |
| Other Organics/Multi-Materials 2 | -- | 100 |
1"Wood" includes materials such as sawdust and lumber mill trimmings.
2Examples of other organics include, but are not limited to, peanut hulls and corn stover. An example of multimaterial sorbents would include, but not be limited to, a polymer and cellulose fiber combination.
Product Specifications:
- The U.S. General Service Administration's (GSA's)
specification for
Absorbent Material, Oil and Water (For Floors and
Decks) states that "the absorbent material shall
consist of a uniform mixture of
minerals of the silicate type."
- The National Institutes of Health specification for Laboratory Animal Bedding, Softwood, precludes the use of recovered material. The specification states that sorbents used for "contact bedding for animals ... shall be from unused white pine (or related species of low resin soft pine) lumber."
In addition, the American Society for Testing and Materials has test methods for both absorbents and adsorbents used to remove oils and other compatible fluids from water. These are Standard Method of Testing Sorbent Performance of Absorbents (F 716-82) and Standard Method of Testing Sorbent Performance of Adsorbents (F 716-81). Neither mention any exceptions or differences for testing of sorbents made from recovered materials.
Product Information:
Database of Manufacturers and Suppliers
GSA Advantage!
GSA's
Federal Supply Schedule Group 79, Schedule V includes
sorbents made from recovered materials. In addition, GSA
publishes various supply catalogues, guides, and schedules
for recycled-content products available through the Federal
Supply Service.
Additional Links:
2007
Buy-Recycled Series: Miscellaneous Products (PDF) (7 pp, 146K, About PDF)
This fact sheet highlights miscellaneous products
designated in the CPG, including sorbents, and includes
recommended recovered-content levels and a list of resources.
Technical Background
Document (215 pp, 381K, About PDF)
This background document includes EPA's product
research on recovered-content sorbents as well as a more
detailed overview of the history and regulatory requirements
of the CPG process.
