What is PETROSET®?
PETROSET® is a powdered sodium montmorillonite absorbent used for binding, plasticizing, and absorbing/solidifying aqueous liquids — an aqueous-waste solidifier in Fluid Tech's Solidification Agents line.
It is used to solidify aqueous solutions with low to moderate levels of dissolved solids, and is applied with power mixing to treat sludges and particle suspensions. With the addition of small amounts of water, PETROSET® can also solidify dry solids.
PETROSET® is frequently used in combination with other Fluid Tech products such as AQUASET II™ and PETROSET II™. Blended with AQUASET II™ per the Recommended Media guide, its reach extends to neutralized strong acids, water-miscible organics, and evaporator concentrates. For wastes with oily, non-water-miscible components, it pairs with the organophilic PETROSET II™.
What waste types does PETROSET® treat?
PETROSET's recommended applications are aqueous wastes with low to moderate dissolved solids — water, neutralized weak acids, evaporator concentrates, and resin slurries:
- Water with less than 0.01M salts or organics — 3 lbs/gal
- Neutralized weak acids (concentrations <0.5M) — 4 to 5 lbs/gal
- Evaporator concentrates — BWR & PWR
- Slurries — ion-exchange resins and filter pre-coat — 4 lbs/gal
Loading rates per the Fluid Tech Recommended Media and Loading Rate Guide. Rates vary with waste chemistry — use Fluid Tech's Waste Form Questionnaire and Recommended Media Matrix, or ask our team for a waste-specific recommendation.
Technical specifications
| Product type | Sodium montmorillonite, powdered solid |
|---|---|
| Color | Light tan to gray as dry powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| pH | 8 – 10 (5% aqueous solution) |
| Bulk density | 49 – 55 lbs/ft³ |
| Specific gravity | 2.45 – 2.55 |
| Solubility in water | Insoluble; forms colloidal suspension |
| Flammability | Non-combustible |
| Crystalline silica (quartz) content | ≤6% |
| Transport classification | Not regulated as dangerous goods (DOT, IATA, IMDG) |
Properties per the PETROSET® Safety Data Sheet (FTL-080-0006, March 22, 2022 — the PDF prints Revision 5 internally while the site catalogs it as R4). Store dry — do not allow water or moisture to contact the product until time of use, to preserve product utility.
Why solidify with a Fluid Tech agent?
Volume increase of wastes treated using Fluid Tech products is typically less than 20% — minimizing volume and weight increases results in container, transportation, and disposal savings as well as reduced generator liability.
- Leach resistance: Fluid Tech products irreversibly bind radioactive and hazardous constituents through naturally occurring ion-exchange mechanisms and form inert solids — stabilizing wastes both chemically and physically, and keeping radioisotopes, heavy metals, and other hazardous constituents from leaching.
- Physical integrity: Solidified wastes maintain their physical integrity through freeze-thaw conditions and the vibrational stresses of transportation, so no incidental or free-standing liquids develop prior to inspection at the final disposition or storage facility.
- Adaptability: 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 handlers know?
PETROSET® contains crystalline silica (quartz, ≤6%), which may become airborne — avoid breathing dust, avoid creating dusty conditions, and use adequate ventilation; the material is slippery when wet.
The PETROSET® Safety Data Sheet carries the signal word Danger with the hazard statement "May cause cancer" and "Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure" — the product contains crystalline silica; avoid breathing dust and use adequate ventilation. PETROSET® is non-combustible, and if the product itself becomes a waste, it does not meet the criteria of a hazardous waste as defined by the US EPA. Full handling, exposure-control, and disposal guidance is in the Safety Data Sheet.
How do I order PETROSET®?
PETROSET® is supplied by Fluid Tech LLC, Sweetwater, Tennessee. Tell us about your waste stream and our team will confirm the right product and loading rate.
Frequently asked questions
What waste types does PETROSET® treat?
PETROSET® solidifies aqueous solutions with low to moderate levels of dissolved solids. Its recommended applications are water with less than 0.01M salts or organics, neutralized weak acids, BWR and PWR evaporator concentrates, and slurries such as ion-exchange resins and filter pre-coat.
How much PETROSET® do I need per gallon of waste?
Per the Fluid Tech Recommended Media and Loading Rate Guide: 3 lbs/gal for water with less than 0.01M salts or organics, 4 to 5 lbs/gal for neutralized weak acids (concentrations below 0.5M), and 4 lbs/gal for ion-exchange resin slurries and filter pre-coat. Rates vary with waste chemistry — Fluid Tech provides waste-specific recommendations.
Can PETROSET® solidify dry solids?
Yes. With the addition of small amounts of water, PETROSET® can solidify dry solids. It is used with power mixing to treat sludges and particle suspensions.
Is waste solidified with PETROSET® stable during transport?
Wastes solidified with Fluid Tech products maintain their physical integrity through freeze-thaw conditions and the vibrational stresses encountered during transportation, so no incidental or free-standing liquids develop prior to inspection at the final disposition or storage facility. PETROSET® itself is not regulated as dangerous goods for transport (DOT, IATA, IMDG).
Not sure which solidification agent fits?
Tell us about your waste stream and our team will match the product and loading rate to your application.
Content reviewed August 2026 · PETROSET® SDS FTL-080-0006 (March 22, 2022; PDF prints Rev 5, site catalogs R4) · fluidtechllc.com Solidification Agents page · Fluid Tech Recommended Media and Loading Rate Guide (© 2016).