Because of its surface, perlite has an amazing ability to adsorb moisture---at times up to 80% by volume. This is what makes is such a good amendment for potting soils, outdoor soils, and large containers. It is why perlite has been used in Israel in 100% landscaping applications, and why it has been used for special lab packing.

In addition it has been used more and more to solidify large, unmanageable sludges!

For instance, several years ago AMTRAK wanted to deepen some old railroad tunnels near Washington, DC. After digging up decades of railroad discharges (oil, grease, refuse, etc.), a major rainstorm and subsequent flooding turned the tunnel into a tunnel of wet, slippery, slimy sludge. Within hours bulldozers and front-end loaders were getting stuck in the tunnel.

AMTRAK's engineers finally tried Schundler's perlite (Perl-Lome) and found it was the "answer to prayers." With only 1600 cubic feet of perlite, suddenly machines could work again, and the sludge could be handled.

Similarly, two years ago a major army base had a hazardous sludge that was too thick to pump, but too wet to handle with front-end loaders. Once again, Perl-Lome came to the rescue by solidifying the sludge, allowing it to be handled and placed in large roll-offs so it could be taken to a hazardous incineration site.

The benefit of perlite is that it is light, easy to handle and use, and absorbs far more than most other medias like "kitty litter" and/or sand. In addition, perlite can be easily transported in lightweight bags or in bulk.

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