Bio-Matrix is a natural absorbent made from sphagnum peat moss that absorbs and encapsulates oil, fuel, paint and chemicals. Normally peat moss retains high amounts of moisture, which is why many people like to use it in gardening. But when the peat moss is dried down to 10% moisture content (the Bio-Matrix process), it repels water and absorbs oil instead. It doesn’t just stick to the oil like clay (kitty litter) or saw dust that makes an oily mess that you scoop up, it actually absorbs it into the cells. Because it is totally absorbed, it will not leach the oil out again, even if it’s rained on. And because it repels water, it can be used to clean oil and fuel spills on water. The Bio-Matrix will float on the water absorbing oil off the top and encapsulating it.
In addition there are natural microbes inside the peat moss that will biodegrade the oil, changing it to water and carbon dioxide, at which point the peat moss goes back to retaining water in the same way it did before it was dried. It is EPA approved to put into landfills or it can be safely incinerated. Bio-Matrix will generally absorb oil at a rate of one pound of Bio-Matrix to about one gallon of oil, so it is much lighter in weight than other oil clean-up products.