Abstract: A method for separating oleaginous material from an aqueous medium is provided. An oil-containing aqueous medium is contacted with an oil-sorbing matrix prepared by subjecting a feedstock to conditions which alter its physical and chemical structure to provide a hydrophobic oil hog. The feedstock includes a hydrophobic matrix having oleaginous-imbibition capability in an oil-hog-altered physical state.

Abstract: A method is provided of removing hydrocarbon pollutants from a surface of a body of water in a storm water filtration system containing an oil separation chamber including a removable top cover to provide access to the chamber for removing oil, a side wall with a storm water inlet, another side wall with a filtered storm water outlet in a region of the chamber lower than the inlet and an overflow storm water outlet located above the filtered storm water outlet. A porous container having an interior filled with oleophilic and substantially buoyant material is located upon the surface of the water in the oil separation chamber so that oil floating on the surface of the storm water in the chamber is adsorbed by the oleophilic and substantially buoyant material.

Abstract: This invention comprises an apparatus and a method of using it to recover petroleum from a spill or the like floating, for example, on a body of water. Powder particles which have a strong affinity for combining physically with petroleum are adapted either to be sprayed upon the spill to adsorb it or surround the floating particles with a boom for movement to apparatus including a centrifuge operated at high speeds to separate the petroleum from the particles and thereby recover the same. The preferred apparatus also includes a porous boom containing such particles and surrounding a slick with said boom which floats on the body of water on which the spill is disposed and, with the aid of tugboats or the like, the boom adsorbs petroleum and the tugboats move the boom to discharge mechanism. The apparatus also includes devices operable to remove adsorbed particles from the boom and recover the petroleum from the particles by centrifugal action as stated above.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating "spills" of materials, e.g. an offshore oil spill, wherein an ungelled mixture of gelatin is deposited onto the material and then allowed to gel. As the gelatin gels, it "traps" or entrains the material into the gelled mass of gelatin whereby the material can readily be retrieved by merely retrieving the gelled gelatin. The gelling of gelatin is fully reversible in that gelatin will return to its liquid state merely upon reheating, thereby allowing the spilled material to be separated from the gelatin so that the material can be recovered and the gelatin to be reused.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid sorbent article comprising at least two contiguous layers formed from a single sheet, said layers being joined at a fold in said sheet and being intermittently releasably bonded together.

Abstract: A method for absorbing hydrophobic substances in liquid form, by subjecting the liquid to contact with an adsorbent material comprising fibers in knop form, which has a spherical fiber orientation gained in the knopping process. The knopping process parameters form the fibers into knops of a wide range of densities in order to allow optimized oil adsorbency for a range of oil viscosities. The fibrous material can be modified by including the use of chemicals, such as water repellants, to modify the surface characteristics of the fibers to enhance oil pick-up or flotation. The fibrous material can be used in conjunction with a containment device made of netting or porous material shaped into an elongated system or pad to allow oil and oil water mixtures to penetrate the netting.

Abstract: A system for controllable delivery of a suitable particulate material in dry form from a vehicle for treating waterborne spilled oil. A dispensing module of the system includes base means for defining a base, air compressor means, tank means for holding the particulate material, a feed conduit connected for pressurization by the air compressor means and having an outlet, a downwardly directed nozzle fluid connected to the outlet and supported from the base, means for feeding the particulate material from the tank means into the feed conduit whereby a stream of the material, mixed with air, is directed at high velocity from the outlet, and means for carrying the base by an airborne vehicle with the nozzle elevated above the surface level, the stream impacting and penetrating the oil. The module can be suspended below a helicopter by means of a stabilizer unit. Alternatively, the module can be suspended in registration with landing gear members of the helicopter.

Abstract: An oil absorbent, water non-absorbent material is made by boiling unglazed newsprint for a prescribed period of time, removing the slurry from the excess water, and baking until a dried solid cake remains. The solid dried cake is then saturated with linseed oil following which it is treated with hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, baked to a dry solid, and reduced to convenient particle size.

Abstract: Hydrophobic contaminants are removed from a particulate matter by contacting the particulate matter with a solid organic phase. The hydrophobic contaminants have greater affinity for the solid organic phase than for the particulate matter and repartition to the solid organic phase. The solid organic phase is then separated from the particulate matter. A typical embodiment utilizes polystyrene particles to remove polychlorinated biphenyls from soil.

Abstract: Liquid hydrocarbon is absorbed from a liquid hydrocarbon-contaminated substrate by a chemical absorbent composition of the formula A.sub.m B.sub.n C.sub.p, wherein A.sub.m is an acid leached bentonite, B.sub.n is a modified aminoplast resin, and C.sub.p is a solid hydrophobic material, and wherein at least one of m and n is a positive numerical value. Oil, crude oil, fuel oil, diesel fuel, bunker oil, gasoline, liquid hydrocarbons and synthetic oils may be cleaned up.

Abstract: A system for recovering oil from an oil spill site. A vessel transports buoyant, oil absorbent material to the spill site. The absorbent material is dispersed below the water surface and advances upward toward the water surface, thereby absorbing oil and water. The dispersed absorbent material is contained and transferred back to the vessel. Oil and water are removed from the absorbent material on the vessel, and the absorbent material may be reused.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil-based fluid from a surface that includes the steps of applying man-made fibers that absorb the oil-based fluid or a cloth made from the man-made fibers to the oil-based fluid on the surface, feeding the fibers or cloth having absorbed oil-based fluid to a device for applying force to the fibers or cloth to recover oil-based fluid and applying force to the fibers or cloth to recover oil-based fluid therefrom. The oil-based fluid recovered from the fibers and cloth can be put to a beneficial use. The fibers and cloth can be reused repeatedly. An apparatus capable of performing the method has rollers to apply the force to the fibers or cloth to recover oil-based fluid from the fibers or cloth.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil-based fluid and an article for use in the method disclosed, the method includes the steps of applying fibers or a cloth with a napped surface that absorb the oil-based fluid to the oil-based fluid on a surface. The fiber or cloth is capable of absorbing at least about 5 times its own weight in oil-based fluid and temporarily holding absorbed oil-based fluid therein until the absorbed oil-based fluid is recovered. The fiber or cloth is maintained in contact with the oil-based fluid until oil-based fluid is absorbed. Then, the fiber or cloth having absorbed oil-based fluid is retrieved from the surface. The oil-based fluid can be recovered from the fiber or cloth and put to a beneficial use. The fiber or cloth can be reused repeatedly. The article contains the fiber or cloth, can optionally contain a flotation material and can optionally have a container that holds the fiber or cloth.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a bath of liquid, in particular a metal-working machine lubricant and/or coolant, by means of a conveyor belt which is fed around a drive roller, driven by a motor, in a chamber of a housing and dips into the bath of liquid, characterized in that the conveyor belt is provided with a stripper having a stripping edge directed oppositely to the direction of rotation of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A process of cleaning spills of toxic or hazardous materials such as oil, antifreeze, gasoline, and the like from bodies of water, garage floors, roadways and the like, comprises spraying shredded fiberglass blowing wool composition particles onto the spill, absorbing the spill with the fiberglass blowing wool composition particles, and removing the fiberglass blowing wool composition particles and the spill absorbed by the fiberglass blowing wool composition particles. An absorbent composition for absorbing spills of toxic or hazardous materials comprises shredded fiberglass blowing wool particles, and cork and/or styrofoam particles dispersed with the fiberglass blowing wool particles. An absorbent sock for absorbing and for containing a spill of toxic or hazardous materials comprises an oil permeable tube, and shredded fiberglass blowing wool composition particles enclosed in the tube.

Abstract: An adsorbent composition containing sugar, vinegar, and diatomaceous earth is disclosed. The sugar, vinegar, and diatomaceous earth are preferably added together in about equal amounts by volume or in amounts of about 20 pounds of sugar, 2 gallons of vinegar, and 100 pounds of diatomaceous earth. The adsorbent composition has particular use in adsorbing petroleum oil from soil, water, or air and in water purification.

Abstract: The performance of mechanical skimmers for the removal of oil from water is enhanced through use of an oil-avid contacting member consisting of a non-woven mat of oleophilic fibers; the fiber surfaces having a film coating of a non-crosslinked rubber. A drum-type skimmer having the drum surfaces covered with such an oil-avid mat may be operated at very high rim speeds to obtain high rates of oil recovery with little water contamination. A process for coating the fiber surfaces with a rubber film is also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-cleaning vacuum head is disclosed which has the ability to discriminate between particles of different size, or the ability to separate fluids from particulate matter. The invention has two relatively moving surfaces which provide a changing locus of vacuum so that particles drawn against the surfaces are later separated therefrom. Each of the two surfaces has slots which are transverse to one another. The surfaces are moved relative to one another in a moving direction which is transverse to the orientation of the slots on the first of the moving surface, and also transverse to the slots on the second surface. The transverse arrangement of the slots, and the relative movement of the slots in a direction which is transverse to each of the slots causes particles drawn against the surface to roll about two substantially perpendicular axes to encourage thorough decontamination of the particles. An oil spill clean-up system is also disclosed utilizing the self-cleaning vacuum head.

Abstract: A product for sorbing oil is disclosed. The product comprises an absorbent fiber core encapsulated in an adsorbent sheet, the adsorbent sheet being oleophilic, substantially hydrophobic, and capable of passing oil therethrough to the absorbent core. An apparatus and a method for forming the sorbent product are also disclosed.

Abstract: An absorbent oil collector is used as an oil spill combating apparatus and based on the use of an oil-absorbent material, e.g. a specially prepared wood fiber mass. In order to provide an oil collector of the kind concerned, which is flexible in that sense that its shape/size easily may be adapted to the actual oil spill situation and which may easily be picked up and collected when the absorbent material has been saturated with oil, the oil-absorbent material is encased within cylindrical stockings (1) of liquid-permeable material and which, along at least one longitudinal edge, is provided with catches, hooks or similar couplers (4) for the joining of a plurality of stockings (1), modules, forming a mat (5), which through rolling may be transformed into a section of a boom.

Abstract: Oil spills on natural bodies of water are treated with amine-substituted water swelling clays. The organoclays are added to oil spills in an amount which herds oil into islands of oil separated by surfaces of water containing no oil. The clays can also be added to oil spills in an amount which produces quasisolid, buoyant organoclay/oil flocculate clumps which float in the water and which are amenable to collection from the surface of the water.

Abstract: An oil spill recovery system deposits a polypropylene quilt onto an oil spill on water, the quilt being deposited at the speed of movement of a water craft so there is no relative motion between the quilt and the water. The quilt is allowed to rest for a given dwell time, then picked up at a speed to prevent relative motion between the quilt and the water. The quilt is retrieved and placed into a first scray. Squeeze rolls remove the quilt from the first scray and squeeze oil therefrom. A plurality of scrays and squeeze rolls may be used. A sewing machine or heat sealing apparatus may be disposed between two scrays so the quilt can be spliced as necessary during operation of the system.

Abstract: A combined skirted oil-sorbing boom and oil-sorbing sweep has a buoyant inner core and an oil-sorbent outer core of a spirally wound sheet of polymeric, oleophilic, hydrophobic microfibers. Adhesively bonded to a sheet of the microfibers at the outer face of the outer core is an open-mesh netting of polymeric monofilaments that are fused at their crossings. The netting and the sheet to which it is adhered extend from the outer core to form a depending skirt which acts as a barrier to oil that is being sorbed by the microfibers. The buoyant inner core can be an open-cell foam that sorbs oil slowly, thus supplementing the oil-sorbing capability without significant loss of freeboard.

Abstract: There is provided a method for removing substantial quantities of an organic substance, such as oil, from earth surface materials, such as bodies of water, using entire dried corn cobs in their natural state.The corn cobs may, thereafter, be used as an alternate fuel source.

Abstract: A filter for removing at least one hydrocarbon from water is disclosed where the active filter medium is fibrous peat which has been dried to a water content of 5 wt.% or less. A process for removing at least one hydrocarbon from contaminated water involves contacting the contaminated water with peat as described above. A filter assembly is also disclosed where at least two of the filters as described above are connected in series.

Abstract: A method of cleaning oil slicks or chemical spills on a body of water or on the ground or other floor surface is disclosed. The method includes spreading a poplar bark-based product either onto a floating net on a body of water or onto oil or a chemical spill on a ground surface and absorbing the oil or chemical into the product. The soaked product may then be removed and a substantial portion of the oil or spilled chemical is recoverable from the product, such as by compressing it. The product may be spread onto a beach or shoreline for cleaning up a prior oil spill or the product may be spread on a clean beach or shoreline to protect it from contamination by any future oil slicks or chemical spills. The poplar bark-based product may be placed in flexible elongated socks for convenient handling for cleaning smaller spills from a surface.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil floating on a water surface which has been contaminated with the oil by distributing upon the contaminated surface discrete particles of a hydrophobic macroporous highly crosslinked polymer. The particles are allowed to adsorb and to become laden with the oil. The oil laden particles are recovered from the water surface, and the oil from the oil laden particles is removed by applying compressive forces to the oil laden particles. Particles which are substantially free of the oil are recirculated and re-distributed upon the contaminated surface, and this sequence of steps is repeated until substantially all of the oil has been recovered.

Abstract: An oil or grease removal assembly of the type used to remove such contaminants from the surface of a body of water includes a rotatable disk made of plastic or other material to which such oil contaminants have an affinity, disposed in cooperative relation to an elongated trough having scraper blades for engaging the opposite sides of the disk for the removal of the oil contaminants therefrom with the trough disposed and structured to direct such oil contaminants away from the disk and the body of water such as to an outlet chute during the continuous rotation of peripheral driving of the disk. The trough has a hook-like element to permit it to be removably mounted straddling the disk.

Abstract: A method for removing hydrocarbon impurities, particularly oil, from water comprising the steps of applying pulverized hydrocarbon gilsonite or a slurry thereof to a body of water containing the impurities, mixing the gilsonite and hydrocarbon to form a mixture, allowing the mixture to separate from the water and coagulate and removing the solution, followed by recovering the oil using existing cracking techniques. The invention also comprises additional steps of purifying the hydrocarbon gilsonite and aerating the same before application to the water to improve the oil absorption and buoyancy qualities of the gilsonite.

Abstract: The method of absorbing oil for clean-up comprising applying dry and pulverized aquatic lily to the spilled oil. The powdered water lily can be applied to both spills on land and water without adverse ecological effects.

Abstract: The improved method employs hydrocarbon wax, preferably paraffin wax, as the cleaning agent for petroleum oil spill slicks. The method includes spraying the molten wax on the petroleum oil-covered surface of, for example, an ocean or a coastline, allowing the wax to solidify on such surface, thereby entraining large volumes of hydrocarbon oil, then removing the solidified wax with entrained petroleum oil from the surface. The method is repeated as often as is needed in order to fully strip the surface of the petroleum oil. The wax is recovered by heating the mixture of the solidified wax with the entrained petroleum oil therein until the wax melts, after which it is decanted from the petroleum oil and is ready for reuse in the method. Preferably, the molten wax is paraffin heated to about 75.degree.-100.degree. C. in order to fully fluidize it so that it can be sprayed easily onto the oil-fouled surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for treatment of an oil slick resulting from an oil spill on a body of water. The oil slick is treated with a mixture of a granular elastomeric gum comprising a block copolymer of ethylene/butylene and styrene and an oleochemical synthetic wax, the latter being used in amounts of from 1 to 33 weight percent of the mixture. The adsorbent mixture has a low density, typically from 14 to about 15 pounds per cubic foot and will absorb oil and form a dry solid which has a non-tacky and non-oily surface. The adsorbent mixture is broadcast on the surface of an oil slick in proportions from about 0.2 to about 1 part per weight part of oil. The wave action on the body of water is generally sufficiently turbulent to admix the absorbent with the oil of the oil slick, resulting in the formation of floating solids which are dry to the touch and which have a non-oily, non-tacky surface. These solids can be readily recovered from the water or from a shoreline after they have washed ashore.

Abstract: An oil recovery mop has a floating carriage, a handle, and a number of oil-absorbing pads or squares suspended from the carriage. The carriage has a pair of tubular pontoons that support a crossbar at a clearance over the surface of the water, and the pads are removably attached to spring clips on the crossbar. When the oil mop is pushed out, one side of each pad faces the surface to absorb spilled oil. When the oil mop is pulled in, the pads reverse themselves and the other side faces down to absorb oil.

Abstract: Method for absorbing, removing, and for cleaning up a first liquid floating on or in a second liquid, the method employing absorbent pellets which, in preferred embodiments, have a particular size, density, and configuration. The method can include steps of introducing the pellets onto or into the floating liquid to be removed; in preferred embodiments additional steps of agitation and spraying or applying a surfactant can be employed. The pellets containing the liquid to be removed can be removed from the surface of the second liquid; from an intermediate location above the lowermost depth of the liquid; or from the bottom level of the liquid or the bottom of the container or reservoir holding the liquid. A method for making pellets for cleaning up a first liquid floating on or in a second liquid; and a method for making pellets for absorbing a combustible material to produce fuel pellets. A method for producing fuel pellets.

Abstract: Pollution removal is carried out using particles of felt made of hydrophobic mineral fibers, in which the felts used, which have been preliminarily compressed for storage and transport and after an unbinding operation, undergo pneumatic transport sufficiently forceful to allow them to regain their original density, said pneumatic transport being used simultaneously to spread the particles on the surface of the water to be treated.

Abstract: Decontaminating article comprising a preagglomerated, powdered polymer of bicyclo[2.2.1]-2-heptene or its methyl derivative in at least one fine-mesh textile bag. The bag is at least partially filled with the polymer. The decontaminating article can be used to absorb a liquid contaminating product, in particular petroleum hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A method for absorbing oils and petroleum based products, having a buoyant, anti-static foam pad impregnated with a hydrophobic amorphous silicate.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing oil from the surface of a liquid, such as a coolant, employing an endless belt partially submerged in the liquid passing through the surface. The belt is threaded over the upper portion of a primary drive roller having a horizontal axis and pressure rollers mounted upon linkage sets are biased towards opposite sides of the primary roller in engagement with the belt to squeeze the collected oil from the belt permitting the oil to flow to a collector located below the rollers. The linkage sets include reversing rollers, and the apparatus is constructed to readily permit belt replacement.

Abstract: An absorbent cellulose product and method of making the product. Preferably chaff and pith corncob components form the cellulose starting material which is reduced, moisture added, compressed or pelletized, sheared by passage through a roller mill and classified to produce a granular product of compact bodies having a given screen size range. This range is preferably between a number 10 and a number 60 screen size. The product has good oil absorbtion properties and the size range allows the oil saturated bodies to be used in a nozzle firing system, for example to heat a cement kiln.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of recovering a petroleum product floating on water comprising an elongate containment barrier, having keel means, being positioned completely around the floating product to be recovered, the area encompassed by the containment barrier being gradually reduced to develop a desired head of floating product within the containment barrier and a portion of the developed head of floating product being gradually recovered while the area encompassed by the containment barrier being continually controlled so that the desired head of floating product is maintained.

Abstract: A device for taking up substances floating in or on the surface of a fluid, which substances at a relative movement between the device and the fluid are brought to at least one uptaking machine (11), which is partly immersed in the fluid. The purpose is to provide an uptaking device, which i.a. shall: prevent the creation of a wash when the uptaking device moves in the forward direction through the mass of water, be simple to manufacture and operate, and easily adjustable in height and laterally and have a high taking up capacity. These tasks have been solved in that at least a portion of the immersed part (19) of the uptaking machine (11) in the fluid is surrounded by at least one screening off and deflecting member (20), which is arranged to create in the fluid around said immersed part (19) a protected zone (22) and controlled flow of the substance to the immersed part of the uptaking machine.

Abstract: A barge has a submersible pump which pumps sea water from a depth of about three feet, heats the water, and uses a boom to direct the heated sea water on the rocks and sand on the beach. The oil which is washed from the beach enters the sea around the barge but is contained by a containment boom. The floating oil in the water around the barge is then recovered by conventional skimming techniques. The sea water from the pump is heated by oil-fired burners. The temperature of the water may be controlled by regulating the amount of heating oil fed to the burners or by varying the number of oil-fired heaters used. The boom is a 100 foot long articulated structure which can be moved across the beach at will to direct the hot water on any desired part of the beach. Either a series of nozzles producing high intensity fan sprays on a series of nozzles producing cone sprays may be selected.

Abstract: An improved process for absorbing oils and especially separating and recovering oils from an aqueous medium or aqueous/wetted medium using an absorbent oleophilic biodegradable sponge material comprised of essentially fat-free, foamable natural products, specifically animal proteins or plant polysaccharides, such as gelatin, collagen, egg white albumen, gum agar, gum arabic, gum karaya, and locust bean gum, which absorb oils at a rate of at least about 30 times their weight.

Abstract: Fumed silica treated with octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane or hexamethyldisilazane are disclosed for the absorption of hydrocarbon spills, particularly on a body of water without the absorption of water.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing oil from the surface of a liquid using an endless belt partially submerged in the liquid, the belt passes over a primary roller having a vertical axis and pressure rollers squeeze the belt on the primary roller removing oil from the belt which flows by gravity to a collection receptacle mounted upon a frame supporting the primary roller and its drive structure. The belt twists whereby its lower portion submerged in the liquid defines a reversing loop whose configuration is maintained by a weight roller having a horizontal axis of rotation.

Abstract: A method is described for the absorption of a liquid in which one applies to a body of the liquid an absorbent material which contains dealginated, partially dewatered kelp residue. Other components, such as perlite, may also be present. The absorbent material will have a water content no greater than about 25%, preferably about 5%-10%. The absorbent material may be formed into a wide variety of shapes, including pellets, boards, blocks, granules, flakes, and the like, and in such forms may be applied in a variety of different manners to the liquid to be absorbed. The method is useful in the absorption of many types of liquids, but most importantly oil products.

Abstract: An on-board oil spill prevention and recovery system for an oil transporting vessel. The system includes a pillow storage container which releasably houses a plurality of sorbent pillows. The container is fixedly attached to said vessel above a hole cut in the deck of the vessel above an oil holding tank thereby permitting the pillows to be selectively released to the interior of the holding tank. The system further includes a sorbent boom selectively deployable in the waters surrounding the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for recovering floating material, such as pollutants or debris, from the surfaces of bodies of water. This system is designed to be modular to be quickly transportable to any desired area in the world. The system uses an elongated scoop having a spiral shaped cross-section mounted on a floating vessel to pick up the floating material in a substantially laminar flow. The material is separated from the surface by a rotating frame having a mechanism on its periphery to separate the material. The mechanism can be of several embodiments including compressible absorbent pads, rigid or flexible paddles, permeable layers and eccentric frames. The separated material is removed from the separating mechanism and deposited into retaining troughs. The collected material is then pumped to inflatable collecting tanks which are towed behind the catamaran. The system is designed to be adaptable to a wide range of conditions and sites.

Abstract: Oil is removed from the surface of water by contacting the oil with a non-toxic, biodegradable oil-absorbing material selected from the group consisting of pre-cooked and puffed cereals, in an amount sufficient to cause agglomeration of the oil-loaded material and formation of a buoyant semi-solid mass, and removing the buoyant semi-solid mass from the surface of the water. The method according to the invention is particularly useful for collecting and removing oil accidently discharged into open waters by oil tanker ships and enables substantially total recovery of the oil spills.

Abstract: A sausage-shaped liquid-absorbing article is provided which includes within a porous fabric fine, fibrous particles of flash-spun polyethylene, optionally particles of foamed organic polymer, and an effective amount of a wetting agent. The article is capable of absorbing oils or aqueous liquids in amounts equal to at least six times the weight of the particles.