Solidifiers and Absorbents: How do they compare?

Spills happen; they are unpredictable and can pose a threat to employee, patient, and environmental safety. Being prepared for the unexpected is crucial in maintaining a safe work environment, no matter your industry. Solidifiers and absorbents are a key factor in being prepared to clean up a spill situation.

At Safetec of America, we manufacture a full line of spill control products, including solidifiers and absorbents, each designed to combat spills and keep those around it protected from hazardous and infectious materials.

Solidifiers vs. Absorbents

While they serve the same purpose, solidifiers and absorbents have their differences in controlling spills.

Both are designed to contain potentially hazardous spills so they can be safely transported and disposed of—but how are they different?

Solidifiers

• Function: Transform liquids into a semi-solid gel-like mass and reduce splashing.
• Application: Apply the powder-like substance directly on the spill or into the container, once congealed, the mass can be cleaned up with a scoop and scraper or disposed of.
• Examples: Red Z®, Green-Z®, Acid Lock Fluid Solidifier, Alky Fluid, Petro Lock, Speedy Cleanz® Fluid Absorbent, and FSC 1 Formalin Spill Control.

Safetec’s solidifiers are designed to handle a variety of spill situations. Ranging from blood and body fluids to chemicals to hazardous drugs, our variety of products offers you the ability to choose which solidifier best suits you, your workplace, and the types of spills you could encounter.

Our solidifiers are offered in a multitude of configurations, including pouches, shaker bottles, buckets, drop-in pacs, and prepackaged spill kits.

Absorbents

• Function: Absorb liquids while maintaining their physical shape.
• Application: Adds an extra layer of protection while transporting dangerous or potentially infectious materials.
• Example: Zorb Sheets.

Safetec’s Zorb Sheets are superabsorbent, lightweight, and space saving sheets that can be used across a variety of industries, including healthcare, medical device manufacturers, shipping facilities, and laboratories to name a few.

Zorbs are ideal for preventing leaks while handling and transporting potentially infectious and hazardous liquids. These versatile sheets provide unique absorption and encapsulation properties ideal for safe, compliant packaging and specimen transportation. Our Zorb Sheets are offered in a variety of standard sizes and can also be cut to custom sizes based on customer needs.

What are the Pros and Cons?

Both solidifiers and absorbents aid in ensuring a safe environment by containing and managing spills that could potentially be hazardous or infectious.

But what are the pros and cons between them?

Powdered Solidifier

Pros:

1. Versatility: Can be used on a wide range of liquids, including hazardous chemicals and body fluids.
2. High Absorbency: Can absorb and solidify large volumes of liquid, making it suitable for major spills.
3. Ease of Application: Simple to apply by sprinkling the powder directly onto the spill or dropping it right into the container.
4. Minimal Contact: Reduces the need for direct contact with the spill, enhancing safety.
5. Waste Reduction: Often results in less waste compared to bulky absorbent materials.

Cons:

1. Clean-up: The solidified material still needs to be collected and disposed of, which can be messy.
2. Dust Generation: Can create dust during application, which may require protective measures. Our EZ-Personal Protection Kit can provide you with the proper equipment to protect against exposure while managing spills.
3. Surface Residue: May leave a residue on the surface that needs additional cleaning. Keep disinfectant wipes, like Safetec’s SaniZide Pro 1® on hand to aid in spill cleanup.

Absorbent Sheet

Pros:

1. Convenience: Easy to deploy and use; simply place the sheet over the spill.
2. Containment: Absorbs and contains the spill within the sheet, preventing further spread.
3. No Residue: Leaves minimal to no residue, making post-cleanup simpler.
4. Variety: Available in different sizes and absorption capacities to suit various needs.
5. Reduced Waste Handling: The sheet can be disposed of directly, often reducing handling steps.

 Cons:

1. Capacity: May not be able to absorb large volumes of liquid as efficiently as powders.
2. Coverage: May require multiple sheets for larger spills, leading to higher usage. Safetec’s AS Zorb Sheet, which is a multi-ply sheet with a higher absorbency, can be used as an alternative to smaller sheets.
3. Direct Contact: Requires more direct contact with the spill during placement and removal.
4. Surface Limitation: Less effective on uneven surfaces where liquid can seep underneath the sheet. 

Choosing the Right Product

Choosing between powdered solidifiers and absorbent sheets depends on the specific spill management needs, including the type of liquid, volume and the environment in which the spill occurs. For example, in a hospital setting, where the handling of hazardous and infectious materials are common occurrences, solidifiers, such as Red Z®, Green-Z®, and Speedy Cleanz®, are best suited for handling spills involving blood, body fluids, and other biohazardous materials. As compared to Zorb Sheets, which are best suited for containing leaks and spills while transporting specimens.

Hospital room: Post-surgery suction canisters contain blood gathered during a procedure. To avoid potential spills or splashing, a Red Z® drop-in pac could be placed right in the porthole of the suction canister. Their unique shape and dissolvable material quickly solidify the blood. Once the blood has been turned into a semi-solid gel-like mass, it can be safely disposed of.

Biohazard bag leak: In another situation, a test tube leaks in a biohazard bag while being transported for disposal. To avoid exposure to any hazardous or infectious material, add a Zorb Sheet into the biohazard bag to contain any leaks.

Safetec of America

For over 30 years, Safetec has been a leading manufacturer of first aid, infection control, and over-the-counter products. Located in Buffalo, N.Y., all our products are manufactured and distributed by us.

We first entered the infection control industry with Red Z®, our flagship product, to aid in protecting against infection during the AIDS epidemic. Since then, we have expanded our manufacturing capabilities to produce a full line of infection control products.

By choosing Safetec’s solidifiers and absorbents, you can ensure a safe, compliant, and efficient solution to spill management in any environment.

Read more- Solidifiers: What are the different types?