Abstract: Apparatus for, and method of, removing oil 33 from oil-contaminated water which is operable in heavy seas and which does not require more than one self-propelled craft for its efficient operation is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a collapsible net 31 which floats on the water and adsorbs oil in preference to water, and means to reciprocate the net between a floating disposition and a storage disposition, through desorbing means 36 to remove oil from the net.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the separation of mixtures of liquids insoluble in each other, e.g., water and oil, where the mixture of liquids is brought into contact, from one side, with a fabric allowing only one of the liquids to pass so that the liquids can be collected separately.

Abstract: Bags or booms of porous material filled with an oil adsorbant, particulate polyisocyanurate synthetic foam material are used to enclose and adsorb oil spilled on water or hard surfaces.

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: A sensitive element which deteriorates when contacted with the polluting agent, this material comprising a sequenced styrene-butadiene copolymer, of which at least a part is hydrogenated.These elements can be used in pollution sensing devices, or for constituting at least a wall portion of a container housing a product for fighting against pollution.

Abstract: Treatment of high yield wood pulp which has ether extractives of greater than about 3.0% at temperatures of about 105.degree. C. or higher for at least about 16 hours followed by fluffing of the heat treated pulp results in a relatively inexpensive absorbent for oil spills and the like. The oil is readily recovered from the absorbent or the oil and absorbent may be burned as fuel without separation.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for the removal and recovery of pollutant oil and the like floating on the surface of a body of water, comprising: means capable of the physical withdrawal of pollutant oil and the like with or without additional water from the water surface to a recovery station on site; means for spraying hot water over such pollutant oil and the like at said recovery station; a receiving tank for the oil/water washings resulting; an oil/water separator/coalescer for separating oil containing a minor quantity of water only from the washings; means for receiving such separated oil; means for recirculating water from said separator/coalescer for heating and further spraying; and means for returning any excess purified water from said separator/coalescer to said body of water.

Abstract: A mass of net-like material of oleophilic, hydrophobic netting material is formed from strips of netting secured into a loose mass. Oil contacting the mass is sorbed by the strands and tends to bridge the openings in the net-like material to increase the short term oil pick up capacity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the separation of an emulsion of at least one dispersed phase emulsified in at least one continuous phase of different density wherein the emulsion is passed into a vessel and axially through a fixed coalescing bed for coalescing the dispersed phase, and continuing the flow over a guide wettable by the dispersed phase whereby the coalesced dispersed phase travels along the guide axially to establish a layer of the coalesced dispersed phase and the continuous phase passes substantially radially outwardly through the guide to establish a layer of the continuous phase, the interface of the dispersed phase and the continuous phase being maintained at approximately the midpoint of the guide.

Abstract: A product or article for manual use in the removal of spilled oil and like contaminants from the surface of a body of water is provided which is characterized by a plurality of strands of a polyolefin being placed in an endless or closed, circular state with each strand being twisted about its longitudinal axis, with the strands being retained in this state by tie or like securing means, thereby causing an intermixing of the twisted polyolefin strands with one another producing a loose, fluffy polyolefin mass having a great many interstices formed throughout the mass thereby materially increasing the adsorbing oil ensnaring characteristics of the mass.

Abstract: The system comprises a flexible line provided with means for collecting products scattered at the water bottom by circulating the flexible line in contact with these products. On the rising portion of the path followed by the flexible line, the collecting means are passed through a tubular casing for simultaneously protecting the surrounding water against pollution from products released, while hoisting the products to the surface.

Abstract: A device for picking up oil floating on the surface of water, particularly heavy fuel oil and weathered crude oil, which device comprises;(a) a first rotatable drum (2) having corrugations (3) extending across its surface;(b) a second, smaller rotatable drum (11) having corrugations (12) extending across its surface adapted to mesh with the corrugations (3) of the first drum (2);(c) means for driving one or other of the drums;(d) a collector for recovered oil (14) mounted below the area where the gear teeth mesh, and(e) at least one float so that in use the device floats with the first larger drum (2) partially immersed in water and the second smaller drum (11) and collector (14) clear of the water.

Abstract: Oil floating on the surface of another liquid is contacted with crushed raw oil shale to adsorb the oil onto the shale. A vortex is created in the surface of the liquid, drawing the crude shale with oil adsorbed thereon beneath the surface of the liquid. The invention provides method and apparatus for adsorbing oil on shale, causing the crude shale with oil adsorbed thereon to sink below the surface of the liquid, recovering the crude shale with oil adsorbed thereon from below the liquid surface, treating the crude shale to separate the oil from the shale, and recycling the crushed shale into contact with oil on the liquid surface.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for separating liquids and particularly separating oil from the surface of water contained in a tank. The apparatus includes a partially submerged drum mounted to rotate in the water tank and a film of oil and water is picked up on the surface of the rotating drum and removed by a doctor blade. The removed oil and water mixture flows through a trough and is discharged into the upper end portion of a vertical tube. The lower open end of the tube is located beneath the level of the water and the tube has an overflow outlet located at a higher level than the level of the water. The oil, having a lesser density than the water, will collect in the upper end in the tube and the level of oil will rise and is discharged through the overflow outlet, thereby providing a full separation of the oil from the water.

Abstract: A filter apparatus for separating particles of oil from waste water comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a filter element arranged therebetween. The filter element is in the form of a self-supporting body comprising small pieces of soft foamed plastic material having open cells. The foamed plastic material has been subjected to mechanical, non-disintegrating pressure shocks of a magnitude sufficient to rupture the cell walls. Thereafter the pieces are joined together under pressure by means of a bonding agent.

Abstract: A barrier is attached to the side of a ship and extends outwardly therefrom. The barrier, in a transition region at the side of the ship, increases in height toward the side of the ship, thus forming a barrier sail which preferably extends from the height of the deck and down to the beginning of the bilge section at the side of the ship, the floating section of the barrier extending along the upper edge region of the barrier said and gradually decreasing in diameter toward the side of the ship, and the barrier sail being inserted into a vertical slot affixed to the side of the ship.

Abstract: An improved process for removing oil from oily waste water streams, particularly from aqueous refinery streams wherein the oil is present as a stable oil-in-water emulsion, which comprises passing the stream through a filter bed of particulate, unprocessed PVC or its copolymers mixed with a granular, inert and preferably porous filler material such as particles of coke or carbon. The improvement substantially increases bed life and has unexpectedly resulted in higher oil-absorption capacity of the filter bed.

Abstract: Organic pollutant spills on aquatic bodies may be collected by a method comprising distributing a plurality of buoyant magnetically susceptible, oleophillic, hydrophobic, resilient sorbent particles on the surface of the pollutant, allowing the sorbent to attract and bind the pollutant, magnetically collecting the pollutant-bound sorbent particles, compressing the pollutant-bound sorbent particles to expel the pollutant to a pollutant sump, allowing the compressed sorbent particles to recover from compression, and redistributing the sorbent particles on the surface of the remaining pollutant.

Abstract: A granular polyurethane cellular medium for absorbing water-borne, water insoluble hydrocarbons, method for its preparation and production system. The granular medium is formed by prereacting polyisocyanate or a prepolymer with a linear monohydric alcohol to form a prepolymer. This prepolymer subsequently is reacted with a polyol and blowing agent within a flexible sheet bun mold. Following molding of the bun within the flexible sheet, the bun is transferred to a comminution stage within a predetermined time period whereupon it is granulated. The material is fabricable at low cost and under a broad range of environmental conditions permitting flexibility in selecting the site for production of the material. The material exhibits an unusually high affinity for the water-borne contaminant hydrocarbons, does not absorb water and lends itself to low-cost production procedures.

Abstract: The recovery of oil in an oil spill on water is achieved by a medium which not only absorbs the oil but causes it to become heavy and loose its buoyancy in relation to water so it can be made to sink, together with apparatus for effecting the deposit of the medium upon the oil in an oil spill and for collecting the sinking oil below the surface and before it attaches itself to the bottom surface so it can be removed to a place where the recovered oil may be extracted from the medium which sank the oil.

Abstract: A method for separating water-immiscible oils and oil-like substances from mixtures including said oils in an aqueous medium which comprises contacting the mixture with an oleophilic fibrous web comprising large numbers of interconnected, interstitial spaces for reception and retention of the oil to the exclusion of water.