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3. WEIGHT & ABSORBENCY MEASUREMENTS USED. Although the recognised absorbency, and therefor weight rating, is about 9 lbs./kilos of water for every 1 lb./kilo of peat, some of the better sphagnum mosses can absorb up to 14 lbs./kilos of water per lb./kilo of 100% pure dry peat. The Spill-Sorb sphagnum is harvested from the “Fison” bogs in Parkland County, northern Alberta; noted to be home to the finest and purest of sphagnum peat mosses in the world. All the weights and absorbency measurements we have used in this report, excepting for those tests that we have physically performed, use the lesser of the 1:9 absorbency ratio rather than the l:14 ratio. 4. BAG WEIGHTS PER CUBIC FOOT. In the bog 1 lb., or 1 kilo, of 100% dry peat will hold 9 lbs., or 9 kilos, of water in its capillaric fibers. At 10% moisture content 1 lb., or l kilo, of peat will hold 0.43 1bs, or 0.43 kilos of moisture (not 1/9 of 9 lbs. being 1 lb., or 1/9 of 9 kilos being l kilo, as you may suspect). This therefor shows that the moisture content in our peat absorbent will increase by approximately 21 times when saturated. However at 5% moisture content it will absorb over 36 times its moisture weight and conversely at 16% moisture content it will only increase by about 13 times the weight of the moisture held in the peat. Don’t get misdirected here; the above refers only to the amount by which the moisture content itself is increased and multiplied by when 100% saturation of the peat is realized. Ideally 10% moisture content of our 4 cubic foot/0.1135 cubic metre (l13.5 litre) compressed bag will contain 0.110 kilos of peat absorbent per litre volume measure of Spill-Sorb (i.e. 0.077 kilos pure dried peat holding 0.033 kilos of moisture = 0.11 kilos or the equivalent of 0.11 litre measurement of Spill-Sorb). This multiplied by the original loose content fill of 227 litres of absorbent loaded into the bag will total 25 kilos ((0.077 + 0.033)×227=24.97 kilos) of weight per compressed 4 cu. ft./0.1135 cu. metre (ll3.5 litre) bag. The imperial weights comparison looks too complex; suffice it to say that the 4 cubic foot bag should weigh 55 lbs. when 8 cubic feet of loose Spill-Sorb has been double compressed and compacted into it. If the moisture content is higher, it will weigh more than 55 lbs. or 25 kilos. If it has less than 10% moisture content the bag weight will drop accordingly. Remember all sizes, weights, and the bulk density of each peat fibre is variable, we do not, nor can we, guarantee a weight to less than a nominal percentage per bag. 5. ABSORPTION CAPACITY PER BAG. At a ratio of 0.035 lbs., or 0.077 kilos, of l00% dry peat with 0.015 lbs., or 0.033 kilos, of moisture content the percentage of dry peat available for external use is 94.1% (of interest the factorial percentage of moisture removed from the saturated peat is 95.2%!). We know that one bag of Spill-Sorb will minimally absorb 465 lbs. or 55 US Gallons, or 210 kilos (or 210 litres) of water when saturated (0.110 kilos/litres × 227 × 9 × 94.l% = 211.47 kilos or liquid litres of measurement). Tests have proven that one 4 cubic foot compacted bag of Spill-Sorb will regularly absorb 50 US gallons, or 200 litres, of Bow River Alberta crude oil at temperatures of from 57 to 64°F, or 14 to 17°C. Spill-Sorb Canada Inc. has set this measurement as their “foundation” absorption rate. Bow River crude has a specific gravity of 0.904 and weighs 392 lbs./178 kilos per 54 US gallon/204 litre drum. Specific gravity, and similarly kg per M³, bbl per Mg(1,000 kg.= 1 tonne), kg per drum (204 litres), lb. per gal. (Imperial), and lb. per gal. (US), are all directly related to the absorption capabilities of dried peat with hydrocarbons. The higher the SG and weight per litre the better the Spill-Sorb absorption rate. The lesser the SG or weight per litre of the hydrocarbon, the lesser the absorption factor of the peat absorbent. Residual fuel oils, greases, and paints will require less than a 4 cubic foot bag of compacted Spill-Sorb to absorb 50 US gallons/200 litres of spill while more than one bag will be required to absorb an equal amount, yet of lesser weight and SG, when aviation, auto, or diesel fuels are to be absorbed. 6. COMPACTED SPILL-SORB MEASURE. Gallons or litres of hydrocarbons absorbed are directly related to the loose packed capacity fill of the peat absorbent prior to being compacted. When 8 cubic feet/0.227 cubic metres (227 litres) of loose dried peat absorbent is compacted to 4 cubic feet/113.5 cubic metres (227 litres) and then reopened, whether it is hours or months later, the peat will not “spring” or “surge” back to its original 8 cu. ft./0.227 cu. metres. (227 litre) measurement. When loosened prior to being distributed on spills it will usually measure 5.3 to 5.6 cu. ft. or 0.150 to 0.160 cu. metres. (150 to 160 litres). Remember, when we compact the peat we are simply taking “air” out of the loose peat volume, not volume out of the peat! If you placed the contents into a roller-tub clothes dryer for several minutes then it will “spring” and “surge” back to 8 cu. ft. or 0.227 cu. metres. (227 litres) of cubic measurement. i.e. It will “aerate” and fill the fibrous pores with air. The absorbency capabilities of Spill-Sorb does not deteriorate from being compacted unless the fibers have been permanently and irreversibly crushed in the process. The only time this happens is when the peat has been charred in the drying process, and or, has been dried to too low a moisture content level. The peat would then turn to a fine black powder. When the pores are sealed, or the peat turns to ash, then it is like our competitors products; it becomes an ADsorbent, not an ABsorbent. In the case of Spill-Sorb the integrity of the peat fibers are maintained throughout the air drying and “Goodwin” patented “Cyclonic Vacuum Heat Treatment Process” where the drying fibers “residence time” throughout the drying chambers is exactly controlled and monitored until such time as the correct moisture content is attained. And finally, the only reason we compact Spill-Sorb is to save us all monies on freight costs. This saving, or not paying for loose product to be shipped, is easily calculated; it is 50%!
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