Abstract: Oil is removed from water surfaces by advancing a continuous loop of oil adsorbent material past the front of a boom which is moving relative to the water to accumulate oil ahead of it and then through an oil desorbing means. The invention also provides a method of and apparatus for removing oil in which the loop is advanced through a floating rope guide means and then through a desorbing means on a vessel towing the guide means by flexible connecting members which keep slack the runs of rope loop between the vessel and the guide means.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to material recovery apparatus comprising a rope of an adsorbent material arranged for floating on the surface of a liquid contaminated by a contaminating material preferentially adsorbed by the rope, the rope being in the form of a continuous loop extending between a desorption station through which the rope is advanced to remove adsorbed material and a floating rope guide structure at which the rope is guided around guide means. The rope guide structure is so constructed as automatically under the pull of the rope during relative movement between the desorption station and the liquid to bring the rope into a disposition in which a part at least of the length thereof has a component of motion over the surface of the liquid and relative thereto which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the said part.