Pall donates leftovers to combat Gulf spill

Pall Corp. says it is donating leftover polypropylene membrane from its manufacturing operations in Pensacola, Fla., to help protect local beaches from the Gulf oil spill.

The membrane is being stuffed into "socks" for use in the Gulf, the Port Washington-based company said in a news release.

The membrane repels water but soaks up petroleum-based liquids, and can absorb as much as 25 times its weight, Pall said.

The material is left over from previous customer orders.

"Pall trims rolls of polypropylene on the production line to specific customer requirements and, as a result, accumulates leftover material. By repurposing the material for a ‘second life’ to abate the oil contamination, Pall's accomplishment is a doubly significant environmental achievement," the company said.

So far, Pall has donated three tons of the material.