Oil Absorbent & Solidifying Polymers

Our flagship product, oil solidifying polymers (formerly known as C.I.Agent® Oil Solidifying Polymers*), is an integral part of most of the products we create and manufacture. BCI polymers are the only oil solidifier that works on a full spectrum of hydrocarbons ranging from low-end gasoline to heavy crude oil, even FR3, due to possessing a long chain molecular structure that is highly cross-linking with organic liquid hydrocarbons.

The differentiator of our solidifying polymer from other oil solidifiers is that it is a proprietary blend of several USDA food-grade polymers, making it a highly effective oil absorbent solution. This allows the 'recipe' to be altered to meet challenging hydrocarbon properties. Solidifying polymers are non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-carcinogenic, and non-hazardous, solidifying hydrocarbons into an inert, solid, rubber-like mass while suppressing their harmful vapors.

Oil Solidifying Polymers have been tested non-harmful to aquatic plant and animal life and waterfowl. The oil solidifier creates a byproduct that is 100 percent recyclable in most landfills, can be used as raw material for asphalt, rubber and plastic production, or can be burned as fuel.

*C.I.Agent Oil Solidifying Polymers, owned by The Justrite Safety Group, is listed on the EPA National Contingency Plan Product Schedule as a "Solidifier" for use on oil spills in the navigable waters of the United States.

Oil-solidifying polymers are an essential component of many secondary containment filtration products from Basic Concepts. Oil-solidifying polymers from Basic Concepts are the only oil solidifiers that effectively bond with a wide spectrum of hydrocarbons ranging from low-end gasoline to heavy crude oil.

One of the main applications of oil absorbent and solidifying polymers is oil-spill cleanup. Traditional methods of oil-spill cleanup are expensive and labor-intensive. The oil solidifiers from Basic Concepts offer an environmentally friendly alternative, reducing the need for extensive manpower while efficiently containing and absorbing oil spills.

Oil-Solidifying Polymers from Basic Concepts are even listed on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Contingency Plan Product Schedule as a solidifier for use on oil spills in United States waterways. This guide will breakdown the science behind oil-solidifying polymers so users can see what makes oil solidifiers from Basic Concepts an ideal option for oil-spill cleanup.

Oil spills are tragic events that require a lot of manpower and equipment to remedy. Methods of oil recovery vary from situation to situation, but in general, the most commonly employed oil-spill cleanup methods are manual recovery, skimming, burning, and the use of chemical dispersants.

Manual recovery. Cleaning up oil spills using manual recovery involves the use of rakes, shovels, or vacuum trucks along the shoreline or at the site of the oil spill to manually remove oil and oily substances from the water. This method of oil cleanup is time consuming and requires a vast amount of manpower. Vacuum trucks are often used in cleaning up oil spills, but they are an expensive option.

Skimming. At the site of an oil spill, boats equipped with floating skimmers will attempt to scrape the oil from a spill off the surface of the water. Skimming is often done at the outset of an oil spill in order to prevent oil from reaching the shoreline. As with manual recovery, this option requires a lot of manpower and equipment.

Burning. Burning—also called situ burning—is a method of oil-spill cleanup that involves setting the spilled oil on fire in order to separate the oil from the water. Burning can only be effectively employed when there is a sufficient amount of oil collected on the surface of the water to sustain a burn. Additionally, burning can have a negative impact on the environment if winds carry debris from the burn onto the shoreline.

Chemical dispersants. Sometimes planes or other vehicles are used to drop chemical dispersants onto an oil spill. Chemical dispersants break down oil into droplets that can be more easily broken down by microbes. One drawback to using chemical dispersants though is that instead of oil pollutants being on the surface of the water, dispersants can cause oil buildup or chemical buildup on the seafloor which could harm the ecosystem.

Understanding Oil Spill Kits and Their Components

Oil spill kits are essential for environmental remediation, providing EPA-compliant solutions for rapid spill containment and cleanup. A well-equipped spill kit typically includes:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Gloves, goggles, and protective clothing to safeguard responders.
Absorbents: Materials like pads, rolls, pillows, and socks designed to absorb oil efficiently and solidify spills using oil solidifying polymers.
Containment Tools: Items such as booms and socks to confine the spill and prevent further spread.
Disposal Bags: For safe collection and disposal of used absorbents and contaminated materials in compliance with EPA regulations.

Proper selection of oil absorbents ensures efficiency in spill response, reducing the risk of contamination.

Oil-solidifying polymers are an alternative to traditional oil-spill cleanup methods. The oil-solidifying polymer from Basic Concepts is a petroleum-based proprietary blend of seven different polymers. The polymers are hydrophobic which means they will always float on salt water and fresh water. When the polymers come into contact with a hydrocarbon—like oil—they solidify into a rubber-like mass that retains the substance and does not allow it to leak back into the water.

Most oil-solidifying polymers on the market are a combination of only one or two polymers. However, the oil absorbent technology from Basic Concepts sets a new standard. What makes the oil solidifier from Basic Concepts so effective in collecting a range of hydrocarbons is its proprietary blend of seven different polymers, specifically engineered to absorb and solidify various hydrocarbons. These advanced oil solidifiers are even effective when used to capture many biodegradable oils, making them a versatile and reliable solution for spill containment.

Once the oil absorbent and solidifying polymers have bonded with the spilled oil in the water, they simply have to be collected from the surface. The solidified oil can then be recycled, making it a sustainable cleanup solution. The polymers used in Basic Concepts’ oil solidifying blend are non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-carcinogenic, and non-hazardous, ensuring a safe and eco-friendly alternative to conventional oil-spill cleanup methods.

When dealing with oil spills, selecting the right oil absorbent is crucial for effective containment and cleanup. Unlike generic absorbents, BCI’s Oil Solidifying Polymers offer superior absorption, solidification, and environmental safety, making them ideal for a range of applications.

Types of Oil Absorbents

Different oil absorbents serve unique purposes depending on the industry and spill type:

• Absorbent Pads & Mats: Ideal for garage spills, industrial maintenance, and automotive applications.
• Oil Booms & Socks: Designed for large-scale spills in water bodies, marinas, and industrial settings.
• Granular Absorbents: Composed of highly absorbent materials like diatomaceous earth, commonly used for shop floors and janitorial applications.
• Spill Kits: All-in-one solutions containing a mix of pads, mats, and neutralizers for emergency oil spill response.

What Makes BCI’s Oil Absorbents Superior?

While traditional oil absorbents soak up oil, BCI’s Oil Solidifying Polymers absorb and permanently solidify hydrocarbons into a rubber-like mass, preventing leaks and recontamination. Compared to clay-based absorbents, our technology:

a. Absorbs 50% more oil per pound
b. Eliminates re-release of hydrocarbons
c. Complies with EPA & SPCC regulations
d. Offers cost-effective and long-lasting spill control

How to Choose the Right Oil Absorbent for Your Application

• For industrial spills: Choose granular absorbents or solidifying polymers for fast cleanup.
• For automotive and workshop use: Absorbent mats or pads work best for localized oil leaks.
• For environmental remediation: Use booms and socks to prevent oil from spreading in waterways.
• For emergency response: Pre-packaged spill kits ensure quick containment.

The Environmental Protection Agency is the regulatory body responsible for drafting the guidelines and requirements meant to protect the environment. The EPA has compiled a list called the National Contingency Plan Product Schedule which contains all the confirmed products that are used in response to oil spills.

Basic Concepts’ Oil Solidifiers are listed on the EPA’s Product Schedule under “C.I.Agent” as an oil-solidifying polymer. This means that the EPA has received data concerning the oil-solidifying polymers used by Basic Concepts regarding oil-spill cleanups.

The Oil Solidifier is the flagship product of Basic Concepts. For over 25 years, Basic Concepts has provided secondary containment and oil-trapping filtration systems to military installations and industrial sites all over the world. Our environmentally friendly, cost effective, and easy-to-use oil-solidifying polymers can be deployed as a safe and efficient response to oil spills. 

BCI’s oil solidifying polymer technology has revolutionized the way the electric utility industry accomplishes SPCC-compliant secondary oil containment for substations and transformers.

Oil Solidifer

Our flagship product, oil solidifying polymers (formerly known as C.I.Agent® Oil Solidifying Polymers*), is an integral part of most of the products we create and manufacture. BCI polymers are the only oil solidifier that works on a full spectrum of hydrocarbons ranging from low-end gasoline to heavy crude oil, even FR3, due to possessing a long chain molecular structure that is highly cross-linking with organic liquid hydrocarbons.

The differentiator of our solidifying polymer from other oil solidifiers is that it is a proprietary blend of several USDA food-grade polymers, which allows the “recipe” to be altered to meet challenging hydrocarbon properties. Solidifying polymers are non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-carcinogenic, non-hazardous and solidify hydrocarbons into an inert, solid, rubber-like mass as it suppresses their harmful vapors.

Oil Solidifying Polymers have been tested non-harmful to aquatic plant and animal life and waterfowl. The oil solidifier creates a byproduct that is 100 percent recyclable in most landfills, can be used as raw material for asphalt, rubber and plastic production, or can be burned as fuel.

*C.I.Agent Oil Solidifying Polymers, owned by The Justrite Safety Group, is listed on the EPA National Contingency Plan Product Schedule as a “Solidifier” for use on oil spills in the navigable waters of the United States.

Solidifying Polymer for Oil Spill Clean Up

Oil-solidifying polymers are an essential component of many secondary containment filtration products from Basic Concepts. Oil-solidifying polymers from Basic Concepts are the only oil solidifiers that effectively bond with a wide spectrum of hydrocarbons ranging from low-end gasoline to heavy crude oil.

One of the main applications of oil-solidifying polymers is oil-spill cleanup. Traditional methods of oil-spill cleanup are expensive and labor intensive. The oil solidifiers from Basic Concepts are an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional oil-spill cleanup methods. Oil solidifiers are easy to use and do not require the manpower that other cleanup options do.

Oil-Solidifying Polymers from Basic Concepts are even listed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Contingency Plan Product Schedule as a solidifier for use on oil spills in United States waterways. This guide will breakdown the science behind oil-solidifying polymers so users can see what makes oil solidifiers from Basic Concepts an ideal option for oil-spill cleanup.

The Challenges of Oil-Spill Cleanup

Oil spills are tragic events that require a lot of manpower and equipment to remedy. Methods of oil recovery vary from situation to situation, but in general, the most commonly employed oil-spill cleanup methods are manual recovery, skimming, burning, and the use of chemical dispersants.

Manual recovery. Cleaning up oil spills using manual recovery involves the use of rakes, shovels, or vacuum trucks along the shoreline or at the site of the oil spill to manually remove oil and oily substances from the water. This method of oil cleanup is time consuming and requires a vast amount of manpower. Vacuum trucks are often used in cleaning up oil spills, but they are an expensive option.

Skimming. At the site of an oil spill, boats equipped with floating skimmers will attempt to scrape the oil from a spill off the surface of the water. Skimming is often done at the outset of an oil spill in order to prevent oil from reaching the shoreline. As with manual recovery, this option requires a lot of manpower and equipment.

Burning. Burning—also called situ burning—is a method of oil-spill cleanup that involves setting the spilled oil on fire in order to separate the oil from the water. Burning can only be effectively employed when there is a sufficient amount of oil collected on the surface of the water to sustain a burn. Additionally, burning can have a negative impact on the environment if winds carry debris from the burn onto the shoreline.

Chemical dispersants. Sometimes planes or other vehicles are used to drop chemical dispersants onto an oil spill. Chemical dispersants break down oil into droplets that can be more easily broken down by microbes. One drawback to using chemical dispersants though is that instead of oil pollutants being on the surface of the water, dispersants can cause oil buildup or chemical buildup on the seafloor which could harm the ecosystem.

The Science Behind Oil-Absorbing Polymers

Oil-solidifying polymers are an alternative to traditional oil-spill cleanup methods. The oil-solidifying polymer from Basic Concepts is a petroleum-based proprietary blend of seven different polymers. The polymers are hydrophobic which means they will always float on salt water and fresh water. When the polymers come into contact with a hydrocarbon—like oil—they solidify into a rubber-like mass that retains the substance and does not allow it to leak back into the water.

Most oil-solidifying polymers on the market are a combination of only one or two polymers. What makes the oil solidifier from Basic Concepts so effective when used to collect a range of hydrocarbons is the oil solidifiers from BCI are made with a blend of seven different polymers that are designed to capture many different hydrocarbons. Oil solidifiers are even effective when used to collect many biodegradable oils.

Once the oil-solidifying polymers have bonded with the spilled oil in the water, they simply have to be collected from the surface of the water. The solidified oil collected by the polymers can then be recycled upon collection. The polymers used to make the oil solidifying blend from Basic Concepts are non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-carcinogenic, and non-hazardous which means they—unlike other oil-spill cleanup options—pose no threat to the environment.

National Contingency Plan Product Schedule

The Environmental Protection Agency is the regulatory body responsible for drafting the guidelines and requirements meant to protect the environment. The EPA has compiled a list called the National Contingency Plan Product Schedule which contains all the confirmed products that are used in response to oil spills.

Basic Concepts’ Oil Solidifiers are listed on the EPA’s Product Schedule under “C.I.Agent” as an oil-solidifying polymer. This means that the EPA has received data concerning the oil-solidifying polymers used by Basic Concepts regarding oil-spill cleanups.

Oil Solidifiers can be Used to Respond to Oil Spills

The Oil Solidifier is the flagship product of Basic Concepts. For over 25 years, Basic Concepts has provided secondary containment and oil-trapping filtration systems to military installations and industrial sites all over the world. Our environmentally friendly, cost effective, and easy-to-use oil-solidifying polymers can be deployed as a safe and efficient response to oil spills.