Spill Clean Up
Lincoln University Police Department
Appropriate Absorbents for Special Spill Clean-up
Acid Chlorides
- Use Oil-Dri, Zorb-All, or dry sand.
- Avoid water and avoid sodium bicarbonate.
Alkali Metals (lithium, sodium, magnesium, potassium)
- Smother with dry sand or cover with contents from a Class “D” fire extinguisher.
Use of a Class “D” fire extinguisher is the preferred extinguishing method.
- Avoid contact with water.
White or Yellow Phosphorus
- Blanket with wet sand or wet absorbent.
Bromine
- Neutralize spill with a 5% solution of sodium thiosulfate.
- Absorb with inert absorbent material.
Hydrofluoric Acid
- Neutralize with soda ash or lime (or absorb spill with special HF spill pillow).
- Absorb with inert absorbent material.
Mercury
Look at Mercury Clean-up Page.
Call EH&S (681-5496) and ask for assistance if you are unable to accomplish adequate clean up.