Floating vacuum cleaner sucks up oil spills

Journal Article · Wed May 03 00:00:00 EDT 1978 · Chem. Week; (United States)

OSTI ID:5263721

What is described as a successful prototype of an oil slurper, designed and developed by Brazil's Sermapi with the aid of Dutch technicians, has completed testing, and is ready to move into commercial production. The device employs a vacuum-cleaner-like intake to suck in the oil and water mixture, from which the oil is separated under high vacuum aboard the barge. The present barge-mounted unit can sweep 2 sq km/day and has been recovering 300 tons/week of oil spilled routinely in Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay. Sermapi, which has patents on the process, is eager to build bigger, more efficient units.

• OSTI ID: 5263721
• Journal Information: Chem. Week; (United States), Vol. 122:18
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
OIL SPILLS
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
FIELD TESTS
VACUUM PUMPS
USES
BRAZIL
CLEANING
COMMERCIALIZATION
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
EQUIPMENT
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
LATIN AMERICA
PUMPS
SOUTH AMERICA
TESTING
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)