Hydrocarbon Control Products

This market relates to the liquid effluent discharged by manufacturing companies in the normal course of business. Customers include utilities and manufacturers where manufacturing processes are involved as well as the normal HGV and domestic car parks. Burdens Environmentals Smart Sponge range of materials are as follows, with their typical applications:

What is Smart Sponge?
Smart Sponge is a multi patented and patent pending hydrocarbon recovery system based on innovative polymer technologies. This technology consists of a proprietary blend of polymers called the Smart Sponge which is chemically selective to hydrocarbons and readily encapsulates oil and bonds it within the structure. This process virtually transforms liquid petroleum hydrocarbons into a manageable solid waste that is fully recyclable. The Smart Sponge repels water and remains completely buoyant for easy retrieval even when fully saturated.

How has Smart Sponge been developed and tested?
Since its inception in the USA in 1993, Smart Sponge has undergone an extensive research, development, and test program to optimize the Smart Sponge formulation and assure the integrity of the product.

What advantages does Smart Sponge offer over other traditional sorbents currently on the market?
Smart Sponge offers a number of obvious advantages over polypropylene adsorbents - primarily its ability to fully encapsulate recovered oil, resulting in a substantially more effective response. Because Smart Sponge safely "locks up" absorbed hydrocarbons and will not leak or leach, it can remain in place until fully saturated resulting in no wasted product and less expensive disposal options. This cost-effectiveness makes Smart Sponge one of the most desired products on the market.

What makes Smart Sponge products a stormwater BMP (Best Management Practice)?
Hydrocarbons from non-point sources are deposited on streets, carriageways, parking areas, and industrial sites which are washed into storm drains when it rains. Annual stormwater runoff from one square mile of roads and parking areas can contain as much as 18,000 litres of oil and grease. This number does not include deliberate dumping and accidental releases of oil. Smart Sponge products strategically deployed in gullies, catch basins, oil/water separators, and sumps intercept this oil, remove it in a non leaching fashion, from the stormwater flow and prevent its discharge into receiving waters and aquifers.

What Advantages does the Ultra-Urban Filter with Smart Sponge offer as a BMP
The Ultra-Urban Filter has the potential to address several targeted non-point source pollutants. Its Smart Sponge lining is effective in filtering out hydrocarbons. Just as critical, its design makes it an effective catch basin which captures trash, sediment, and debris. Often attached to this solid waste are metals, pathogens, and other contaminants of concern.

Can Smart Sponge be recycled?
Smart Sponge can be immediately recycled by Ogden Waste Treatment Services (OWTS) within the USA in their waste-to-energy facilities, by beneficially reusing the spent Smart Sponge as an alternative fuel in the production of electrical energy. OWTS will guarantee environmentally safe and efficient destruction of the spent product and provide a recycling certificate to the customer which will; in effect, reduce any downstream liabilities associated with land filling and will "close the loop" for product use. Similar arrangements are currently being investigated for the UK with various potential partner organisations.

If you require further information on the Smart Sponge range of products or wish to discuss the suitablity for your project/business please add this product range to your enquiry list.