Remediation of Hydrocarbons from Soils and Surface Waters Using a Specially Treated Spaghnum Moss

A specially treated spaghnum moss has been developed that can absorb up to ten times its weight in hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, chlorinated solvents, aromatics, and transformers oils, depending upon the density and viscosity of the particular contaminant. The spaghnum moss is both hydrophobic (repels water) and oleophilic (absorbs oils). Limited testing shows that the peat's structure encapsulates contaminants so that the resulting mixture passes the Federal toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). In addition, negligible increase in the liquid's original volume, after absorption by the spaghnum moss, occurs. Waste is minimized.