Visual spill indicator

A composition for indicating visually or photometrically a presence of a substantially hydrophobic fluid organic substance and absorbing or imbibing said substance when present, said composition comprising, in combination;

• a dye, which changes color when contacted with a suitable amount of said substance, in conjunction with a matrix, paste, support;
• and
• a fluid organic spill absorbing materials, which contains water insoluble, particulate organic polymer particles that, when contacted with said substance, imbibe said substance and swell substantially upon imbibing said substance or other substantially hydrophobic liquid organic materials absorbable by said particles,
• wherein said dye is provided external said particles.

A device for ascertaining a presence of a fluid organic substance comprising a bay at a location at which is located a composition for indicating visually or photometrically a presence of said substance, said composition including a dye, which changes color when contacted with a suitable amount of said substance, in conjunction with a matrix, paste, support or web, wherein a fluid organic spill absorbing material is present, which contains water insoluble, particulate organic polymer particles that can imbibe liquid organic materials, wherein said dye is external said particles;

• and means for providing a light-transmissive pathway in communication with the location and a detection site external the bay location, wherein the means for providing the light-transmissive pathway includes the following:
• a first, constructed, light-incoming pathway to the bay through which light from a light source can be directed and pass to be targeted onto said compositions;
• the light source;
• and
• a second, constructed, light-outgoing pathway for directing reflected light from said composition away from the bay to the detection site.

In a hollow packaging unit for carrying inside thereof a container having therein an organic liquid substance, which container may accidentially leak or fracture to release said substance, wherein the hollow packaging unit carries inside thereof the container having said substance, the improvement comprising:

• an outside window to observe the inside of the hollow unit;
• a dye in conjunction with the hollow unit carrying inside thereof the container having said substance, which dye changes color when contacted with a suitable amount of said substance so that a presence of said substance spilled outside the container can be indicated visually or photometrically;
• and
• a liquid organic spill absorbing material inside the unit, which material includes a polymeric bead absorbent that includes a crosslinked alkylstyrene and that, upon squeezing, resists release of any of said substance that is absorbed.