Product Info

• WHAT IS SPHAG SORB?
• HOW DOES IT WORK?
• MICROBE ENCHANCED SPHAG SORB
• SPILL CORCERNS, SPHAG SORB SOLUTION
• ENVIRNONMENTAL ISSUES
• FEATURES BENEFITS AND FACTS
• APPLICATIONS

WHAT IS SPHAG?

The finest grade of sphagnum moss from bogs in Canada is the starting point for SPHAG SORB. The peat fibers are separated from all inorganic hard material, and then activated into a high-grade product with a remarkable ability to absorb and encapsulate oils, solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides and all other organic chemicals.

SPHAG SORB is a natural organic absorbent that can be used in all phases of spill clean ups:

• The initial response to a spill.
• The absorption and clean up of spilled liquids.
• The removal and disposal of the contamination.
• and the remediation of the contamination with or without hydrocarbon digesting microbes.

SPHAG SORB is a super absorbent organic compound that is used to clean up oil, gas, diesel fuel, solvents, paints, glycol and organic chemical spills. Peat is partially fossilized plant matter (mostly hemicelluloses, cellulose, and lignin) which is formed in poorly oxygenated wetlands where the rate of accumulation of plant matter is greater than that of decomposition. Peat is a highly porous material with a porosity of approximately 95% and a large specific surface area, which gives it a greater absorption capacity than other common absorbents.

Versatility

SPHAG SORB is an absorbent material with a unique versatility superior to any of the traditional absorbents available on the market today. A single absorbent material capable of absorbing almost every type of liquid from any type of land surface, and effectively removing hydrocarbons from a water surface as well. Being a natural and organic absorbent also provides a wider variety of options for disposal. SPHAG SORB is packaged in a variety of bags, containers, pads, socks and spill kits which simplifies preparedness for spill responses. This versatility translates into a simple, safe and complete readiness for reaction to spills with one inventory item.

Economical

The price of the absorbent, the weight of the absorbent, and the amount of liquid that can be absorbed per pound all determine the value of the absorbent. An absorbents price is part of the equation but often not the most costly part. The volume of waste generated; the shipping costs and disposal costs are all a significant portion of the total clean up cost. SPHAG SORB addresses all of these contributing expenses as it will typically absorb 4 times its own weight and generate much lower volumes of waste than competitive products. By using SPHAG SORB, the cost associated with spill cleanups is cut three ways:

• Less absorbent is required.
• Lower weight and volume saves on shipping.
• The cost of disposal is reduced because of lower volume.

Additional savings will be realized in the reduced labor and time required because of the fast absorbing characteristics of SPHAG SORB.

Environmental

SPHAG SORB is produced to specific standards that achieve the highest absorption of liquids while generating the least amount of waste. SPHAG SORB is natural, organic, non-toxic, non-leaching, safe and easy to use. The fibrous structure of SPHAG SORB, and the fact that the capillaries contain air and moisture, reduces the tendency for soil compaction. This allows air, water and heat to penetrate into the ground speeding up the remediation process. Peat Moss is commonly added to soil as an enhancer in flower and vegetable gardens around the world everyday and is 100% environmentally friendly and a renewable resource.

(SPHAG SORB is a Cost saving, Versatile, Effective, Easy to use, and Environmentally responsible absorbent)

HOW DOES IT WORK?

A powerful wicking action safely encapsulates oil and other organic chemicals.

The key to SPHAG SORB'S effectiveness is the natural capillary and porous structure of the activated peat. These properties provide a powerful wicking action, absorbing hydrocarbons, PCB's and solvents quickly, allowing it to actually encapsulate these liquids on contact. SPHAG SORB securely takes in the oil, chemical or solvent, rather than merely allowing it to temporarily attach to the surface of the absorbent like many competitive products.

SPHAG SORB is super absorbent, and tests show it has the highest absorption by weight, when compared to competitive absorbents, reducing disposal costs significantly.

Since SPHAG SORB is, oleophilic (absorbs oil quickly) and hydrophobic (resists taking on water) it is ideal for a wide range of industrial and specialized uses. It can absorb on land, on hard surfaces such as asphalt or concrete, in drums or tanks and on water. (It even removes the oil sheen)

(SPHAG SORB is your most versatile solution for spill response and cleans up)

MICROBE ENCHANCED SPHAG SORB

The SS-2ME microbial product is specially formulated and contains several types of microorganisms that are added in the filling system at the rate of approximately 680 Billion colony-forming units per bag.

Petrochemical Use

This formulation contains several types of microorganisms that can degrade aliphatic and Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbon chemicals. It contains Microflora that survives on hydrocarbon waste substances allowing it to be used as a source of carbon. Being extremely resistant to toxic effects of the chemical pollutant fraction, they are able to multiply and metabolize in the presence of certain heavy metals. These safe, nonpathogenic microbes produce a broad spectrum of enzyme systems. Because of the diversity of the microorganisms and proprietary biological enzyme systems, this product is excellent for all types of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon degradation.

Bacteria Cultures/Spores

Many different types of bacteria exist extensively throughout our world, and most of them carry on bacterial digestion in some way. Some of them require specialized types of food and/or have unique biological roles. Certain species we find useful and desirable, while others cause odors, disease, and other problems. Isolating and culturing these good bacteria means they can be used in a wide variety of waste degradation applications. Bacteria reproduce by a process called cell division, and under ideal conditions can produce a new generation every 20 to 30 minutes, exploding the population as the number of organisms increases logarithmically.

Bacteria Digestion

Bacteria digestion is the process by which bacteria consumes organic matter. Bacteria feeds on the organic waste, deriving nutrition for growth and reproduction. Using complex chemical reactions, the organic waste is metabolized down to water and carbon dioxide (the final metabolic waste products), providing the bacteria with the necessary energy to sustain their life. The result of this process is that the organic waste is consumed, producing no odors, pollution, or unsightly mess. It is a natural process that occurs constantly in the environment. The microbial formulation merely assists Mother Nature by adding massive amounts of specific bacterial-enzymes to hasten this remediation.

SPILL CORCERNS, SPHAG SORB SOLUTION

• Speed of clean up
  SPHAG SORB absorbs and encapsulates on contact, so the availability of SPHAG SORB on site can reduce the impact of the spill, this decreasing the time and effort required for clean up.
• Health and Safety of Employees and Public
  SPHAG SORB is 100% natural, organic and non-toxic. SPHAG SORB is also a very effective vapor suppressant.
• Environmental Impact
  The quick wicking action and non-leaching characteristics of SPHAG SORB limit the amount of soaking into the affected surface reducing contamination.
• Associated Damages
  Non-abrasive and non-leaching.
• Cost of clean up
  An immediate response and quick product application will reduce environmental impact and cut expense. SPHAG SORB'S light weight makes it easy to handle, and cuts shipping/disposal costs.
• Alberta Environment Involvement
  SPHAG SORB meets all the qualifications required for responsible waste management.
• Corporate Image
  Conscientious use of SPHAG SORB denotes a responsible community member concerned for the environment and the health and welfare of its residents.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

• Composed mainly of partially decomposed Sphagnum moss species.
• Derived from genus Sphagnum.
• Sphagnum fiber content is greater than 66%.
• Wetland = broad term used to describe areas which are waterlogged all or most of the time.
• Bog = peatland where the water table is at or near the surface.
• Plant life in bogs - limited in diversity due to the acid, nutrient poor environment.
• Bogs provide small amounts of open water and minimal cover for waterfowl and nesting birds. Recent research shows that waterfowl use bogs primarily for staging and migration, and only limited brood-rearing.
• Estimated at least 1 billion acres of peatland in the world. (About 4.5% of the total land area)
• Peat is a sustainable resource.
• Estimated more than 50 million tons of peat per year accumulates in the natural environment in Canada.
• Only 700,000 to 800,000 tons of peat is currently harvested for use on an annual basis.
• According to industry sources, less than 4,000 acres of peatland in Canada have been fully harvested.
• There are several options currently utilized for bog reclamation and restoration which returns the site into a functioning wetland. (With proper management the site can become peatland within 5-10 years)
• Research by Canadian scientists has shown that the rate of revegetation is as short as a few years on minerotrophic sites, while large expanses of ombrotrophic bogs required a range of 15 to 20 years to become fully reestablished.
• The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA) is a trade organization whose members include all major Canadian peat producers. The CSPMA and all Canadian peat producers have adopted a peatland preservation and reclamation policy. The CSPMA interacts with the government, the peat industry, and the conservationists to assure the sustainable development of peat resources.

FEATURES BENEFITS AND FACTS

MICROBES:

Indigenous microbes are simply those originating in a particular region or country. Indigenous microbes exist everywhere, differing from region to region and varying in strains and concentrations. Some competitor's claim that they have indigenous microbes, that only means there are characteristic to the specific region that the plant is harvested in. (SPHAG SORB adds a microbe formulation that contains several types of microorganisms that can degrade aliphatic and Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon chemicals. It contains microflora that survive on hydrocarbon waste substances, utilizing it as a source of carbon. These safe, nonpathogenic microbes produce a broad spectrum of enzyme systems. This concentrated microbial formulation merely assists Mother Nature's indigenous microbes by adding massive amounts of specific bacterial-enzymes to hasten the remediation process)

APPLICATIONS

SPHAG SORB has effectively absorbed: Gasoline, Diesel Fuel, Engine Oil, Gear Oil, Hydraulic Oil, Transmission Oil, Organic Chemicals, Paints, Solvents, Glycol, Antifreeze, Cooking Oil, Greases etc. in the following applications: