Page 6 - Landscape-Issue 156

FEATURE

A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION TO PROTECTING

GROUNDWATER FROM OIL SPILLS

EnviTex Oil – developed by Fibertex Nonwovens – performs all the functions of a standard filtration and separation geotextile, while offering enhanced
protection against petroleum-based pollution.

ibertex Nonwovens has developed a dependable and sustainable The product has demonstrated a total degradation capacity of
solution to protect groundwater from oil spills. EnviTex Oil is an 200 ml m² per year under controlled conditions, with consistent
Fadvanced geotextile solution engineered to integrate passive performance across a range of petroleum-based contaminants.
filtration with enhanced bioremediation performance, to intercept This process requires no external energy input or chemical
and degrade petroleum hydrocarbons in soil and groundwater. dosing and is influenced by variables such as soil composition, pH,
As urbanisation increases and oil consumption continues to temperature and moisture. These conditions are optimised by the
rise, the accumulation of hydrocarbon pollution in surface run-off material’s permeability and its capacity to retain moisture, both of
and subsoil poses a growing environmental risk in many sectors. which support microbial viability.
Petroleum hydrocarbons – due to leaks and spills from oil tanks, trucks EnviTex Oil – which has recently been launched into the African
and cars – have toxic properties that are harmful to plant and animal market – meets stringent quality and environmental specifications
life, which is why it has become increasingly important to minimise and is suitable for use beneath roads, parking areas, garages, rail
the effects of oil pollution. The Fibertex solution is bioremediation, networks, airports, construction and mining sites, as well as fuel
which makes use of micro-organisms that are environmentally handling facilities.
friendly and cost-effective, compared to conventional physical and This advanced product delivers continuous, passive mitigation of
chemical treatments. oil pollution in environments where exposure risk is high and where
EnviTex Oil, which offers a sustainable, low-intervention response conventional remediation methods are impractical. By isolating
to oil pollution, is constructed from optimised polypropylene fibres and degrading hydrocarbons in situ, EnviTex Oil reduces pollutant
with dual functionality, acting as a technical geotextile and as a load in natural drainage systems and contributes to the long-term
substrate for microbial degradation. It is treated with a specialised protection of groundwater quality.
finish that not only improves absorbency but also releases nutrients The ability to trap and degrade petroleum hydrocarbons directly
that promote the growth and metabolic activity of indigenous beneath hard infrastructure is increasingly important for urban
microorganisms, accelerating the biotransformation of pollutants resilience and ecosystem health. The launch of this new product
into carbon dioxide and water. The fabric acts as a barrier that retains means the local market is able to safely embed environmental
pollutants while allowing water to percolate through. This product performance into the structure of the built environment.
can also be integrated into drainage systems to skim hydrocarbons EnviTex Oil aligns with the sustainability objectives of the Fibertex
from runoff before they reach sensitive aquifers or stormwater Nonwovens group, which is committed to the ongoing development
infrastructure. If contaminant levels exceed the rate of degradation, of high-performance, environmentally responsible geotextiles.
the fabric can be easily replaced without excavation or structural
modification. For further information contact Brian Potgieter, Technical Sales
Independent testing laboratories confirm EnviTex Oil’s ability to Engineer, Fibertex Nonwovens South Africa
absorb up to eleven times its own weight in petroleum hydrocarbons. brpo@fibertex.com n

4 Landscape SA • Issue 156 2025 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za