French oil spill. cleanup proves tough

Journal Article · Mon May 08 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Chem. Eng. (N.Y.); (United States)

OSTI ID:6929778

Kosman, W

Inclement weather, rough seas, and strong currents prevented widespread use of skimmer and boom devices for cleaning up to 220,000 metric tons of crude oil discharged by the wreck of the Amoco Cadiz, but were effective in dispersing some of the oil. The only skimming system used was an experimental 15 m long, metal-box jib, devised by the U.K. Department of Industry's Warren Springs Laboratory. The effective use of dispersants was hampered by the size of the spill and by a French ruling that prohibits their use onshore or in waters less than 50 m deep. Absorbents used included 20 metric tons of rubber crumb, treated to absorb three times its weight in oil; Norsopol, a polynorbornene-based powder developed by Charbonnages de France Chimie; and approx. 4 metric tons of a talc/water mixture developed by the Institut Francais du Petrole, which costs $40-$60/metric ton and adsorbs only its own weight in oil; the oil is then oxidized by naturally occurring bacteria.

• OSTI ID: 6929778
• Journal Information: Chem. Eng. (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 85:11; ISSN CHEEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040000 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ADSORPTION
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
CONTAINMENT
CONTROL
DECOMPOSITION
DISASTERS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
EUROPE
FOSSIL FUELS
FRANCE
FUELS
LEGAL ASPECTS
OIL POLLUTION CONTAINMENT
OIL SPILLS
PETROLEUM
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
SHIPS
SKIMMERS
SORPTION
STORMS
TANKER SHIPS
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WESTERN EUROPE