What is AQUASET®?
AQUASET® is a granular sodium montmorillonite absorbent used for binding, plasticizing, and absorbing/solidifying aqueous liquids — suited to aqueous solutions with low-to-moderate levels of dissolved solids.
It is a versatile absorbent that is also effective as a top-off absorbent in containers of damp or wet wastes, capturing and retaining moisture which otherwise — through transportation vibrations/stresses and temperature fluctuations — could become a free liquid.
Like other Fluid Tech absorbents, AQUASET® irreversibly binds radioactive and hazardous constituents through naturally occurring ion-exchange mechanisms and forms inert solids, stabilizing wastes both chemically and physically — and the volume increase of wastes treated with Fluid Tech products is typically less than 20%, reducing container, transportation, and disposal costs.
What waste types does AQUASET® treat?
AQUASET® is recommended for water with less than 0.01M salts or organics, neutralized weak acids, water-miscible organics, and slurries such as ion-exchange resins and filter pre-coat.
- Water (less than 0.01M salts or organics) — 4 lbs/gal
- Neutralized weak acids — 4 to 6 lbs/gal (concentrations up to 0.3M)
- Water-miscible organics — 5 lbs/gal (successful up to 5,000 mg/l)
- Slurries — ion-exchange resins; filter pre-coat — rates per Fluid Tech's Process Control Program
Loading rates per the Fluid Tech Recommended Media and Loading Rate Guide. Rates vary by waste stream — request a recommendation specific to your application.
Technical specifications
| Product type | Granular absorbent (sodium montmorillonite) |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Granular solid |
| Color | Light tan to gray |
| Odor | Odorless |
| pH | 8 – 10 (5% aqueous solution) |
| Bulk density | 60 – 66 lbs/ft³ |
| Specific gravity | 2.45 – 2.55 |
| Solubility in water | Insoluble; forms colloidal suspension |
| Crystalline silica (quartz) content | ≤6% |
| Combustibility | Non-combustible (NFPA Health 1, Flammability 0, Reactivity 0) |
| Transport classification | Not regulated as dangerous goods (DOT, IATA, IMDG) |
Physical and chemical properties per Safety Data Sheet FTL-080-0001, Revision 5.
Will the solidified waste stay solid in transport?
Yes — wastes solidified with Fluid Tech products maintain their physical integrity through freeze-thaw conditions and vibrational stresses encountered during transportation, ensuring no incidental or free-standing liquids develop prior to inspection at the final disposition or storage facility.
Used as a top-off absorbent, AQUASET® captures and retains the moisture in damp or wet wastes that could otherwise become a free liquid in transit. Fluid Tech products are designed to stand alone or be used in combination with one another — there is literally no combination of wastes that cannot be solidified.
What should I know about handling AQUASET®?
AQUASET® contains crystalline silica, quartz (≤6%), which may become airborne — avoid breathing dust, avoid creating dusty conditions, and use adequate ventilation, and to wear a NIOSH/MSHA-approved (or EN 149 equivalent) respirator certified for silica-bearing dust when using this product per the Safety Data Sheet.
The material is slippery when wet, and water should not contact the product until time of use to preserve product utility. AQUASET® is non-combustible and is not regulated as dangerous goods for land, air, or sea transport.
Frequently asked questions
How do you apply AQUASET®?
By simply adding it to the waste in a container — the end product is a firm, soft solid. It is also effective as a top-off absorbent in containers of damp or wet wastes, capturing and retaining moisture that could otherwise become a free liquid through transportation vibrations, stresses, and temperature fluctuations.
How much AQUASET® do I need per gallon of waste?
Per Fluid Tech's Recommended Media and Loading Rate Guide: 4 lbs/gal for water with less than 0.01M salts or organics; 4 to 6 lbs/gal for neutralized weak acids at concentrations up to 0.3M; and 5 lbs/gal for water-miscible organics, successful up to 5,000 mg/l. Contact Fluid Tech for a recommendation specific to your waste stream.
What if my liquid is too salty for AQUASET®?
AQUASET® is intended for aqueous solutions with low-to-moderate levels of dissolved solids. For liquids that are too salty or contain levels of organics too high for regular AQUASET® — such as neutralized acids and bases — AQUASET II-G™ is the absorbent of choice.
Is AQUASET® hazardous to handle?
AQUASET's Safety Data Sheet carries the signal word Danger: it contains crystalline silica, quartz (≤6%), classified by IARC as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) when inhaled from occupational sources and its hazard statements include "Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure". The SDS directs users to avoid breathing dust, avoid creating dusty conditions, and use adequate ventilation, and to wear a NIOSH/MSHA-approved (or EN 149 equivalent) respirator certified for silica-bearing dust when using this product. The material is slippery when wet and is non-combustible. It is not regulated as dangerous goods for transport (DOT, IATA, IMDG). Review the full Safety Data Sheet (FTL-080-0001) before use.
Not sure which absorbent fits your waste stream?
Tell us about your waste and our team will help scope the right product and loading rate.
Content reviewed August 2026 · SDS FTL-080-0001 Rev 5 (2022) · fluidtechllc.com Absorbents page · Fluid Tech Recommended Media and Loading Rate Guide (2016).