Apparatus for removing oil spills from the surface of a body of water

Patent · Fri Apr 24 04:00:00 EST 1970

OSTI ID:6087512

Burroughs, R H; Cox, Jr, P R

An apparatus for removing oil, gasoline, crude petroleum, and similar hydrocarbon contaminants (hereinafter referred to collectively as oil) from the surface of a body of water is described. The invention takes advantage of the affinity of fibers of olefin polymers for hydrocarbon liquids. A mass of these fibers when in contact with a hydrocarbon liquid exhibits a pronounced wicking action, whereby it can pick up many times its weight of oil and when the mass is thus wet with oil, it is substantially impervious to water. The method of using the device consists of (1) contacting the surface of the body of water with a coherent fibrous polyolefin structure in the area of the oil; (2) applying a pumping force to the fibrous structure at least one point along its length whereby oil is removed from the fibrous structure; and (3) recovering the oil. (4 claims)

• Assignee: TUL; EDB-82-010215
• Patent Number(s): US 3667608
• OSTI ID: 6087512
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CLEANING
CONTAINMENT
CONTROL
DESIGN
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
OIL POLLUTION CONTAINMENT
OIL SPILLS
PETROLEUM
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
SKIMMERS
SURFACE WATERS
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL