CA1163570A - Removal of oil from water - Google Patents
Removal of oil from waterInfo
- Publication number
- CA1163570A CA1163570A CA000361998A CA361998A CA1163570A CA 1163570 A CA1163570 A CA 1163570A CA 000361998 A CA000361998 A CA 000361998A CA 361998 A CA361998 A CA 361998A CA 1163570 A CA1163570 A CA 1163570A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- bag
- feathers
- bags
- oil
- linked together
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/68—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water
- C02F1/681—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water by addition of solid materials for removing an oily layer on water
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D17/00—Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion
- B01D17/02—Separation of non-miscible liquids
- B01D17/0202—Separation of non-miscible liquids by ab- or adsorption
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
- E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
- E02B15/041—Devices for distributing materials, e.g. absorbed or magnetic particles over a surface of open water to remove the oil, with or without means for picking up the treated oil
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
- Y02A20/20—Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment
- Y02A20/204—Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S210/00—Liquid purification or separation
- Y10S210/918—Miscellaneous specific techniques
- Y10S210/922—Oil spill cleanup, e.g. bacterial
- Y10S210/924—Oil spill cleanup, e.g. bacterial using physical agent, e.g. sponge, mop
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Bags loosely containing feathers are distributed onto oil on water to enable the feathers to take up the oil. The bags have openings sufficiently large to permit the oil to enter and contact the feathers, yet sufficiently small to retain the feathers within the bags. The bags can be linked together, for example in a chain using ropes. Once the feathers have become saturated with oil the bags can be picked up from the water.
Bags loosely containing feathers are distributed onto oil on water to enable the feathers to take up the oil. The bags have openings sufficiently large to permit the oil to enter and contact the feathers, yet sufficiently small to retain the feathers within the bags. The bags can be linked together, for example in a chain using ropes. Once the feathers have become saturated with oil the bags can be picked up from the water.
Description
DESCRIPTIO~
This invention relates to the removal of oil from water.
In recent years, the problem of dealing with oil on water, for example as the result of spillage from tankers or of the blow-out of an offshore oil, well, has become of increasing concern. Various approaches have been adop.ed to combat the problem, including the use of detergents and of skimmer devices to pick up the oil from the surface of the water.
However detergents are costly and present pollution hazards themselves. Skimmer devices are usually com~lex, require considerable capital investment to manufacture and engineering and maintenance to keep fully operational, and in general only operate fully satisfactorily in calm conditions.
:
~ U.K. Specification No. 2020265 A describes - :
~ ~ an alternative approach to dealing with oil spil~
. ~
;; on water involving the use of feathers to take up the !:
oil. The specification envisages distributing feathers onto the oil. This method is also proposed ` in Oil Spill Prevention and Removal Handbook, M.
Sittig, ~oyes Data ~orp., 1974, p.392 and in an article published in the "Evening Standard" newspaper, London, :, '~
.
~ \
3 1 ~57~) United Kingdom on April 10, 1978. However, the suggested technique of using feathers is impracticable in even mild weather conditions. It is difficult to off-load the feathers accurately onto the oil. It was found that the feathers tend simply to blow over and off the i oil, picking up little if any of it. U.K. Specification ~o. 2020265 A also describes the use of feathers compressed into packages which are dropped onto oil. However, this has several disadvantages. It is difficult for the oil to penetrate into the interior of the packages. It inevitably takes some time for the oil to contact the inner feathers, and in the meantime the feathers will have become sodden with water.
Consequently their effectiveness in picking up the oil will be reduced.
, :
.~ United States Patent Specification No. 3,739,913 discloses an open-mesh container for collecting oil from the surface of open water. The container is packed with an oil-absorbing material, in particular a mixture of glass fibré and reclaimed tire cord. Again, it is ..
difficult for oil to reach the interior of the con~ainers.
A further disadvantage is that oil leaks from the absorbing material once the container has been removed from the water. The containers also require a flotation material to ensure that they do not ride too low in the water.
., .
i 3 63570 It has now been found that the problems mentioned above can be overcome by removing oil from water by a method which comprises applying to water to be treated at least one bag loosely containin~ bird feathers, the or each bag having openings sufficiently large ~o permit oil to contact the feathers yet sufficiently small to retain the feathers within the bag, and allowing the feathers to take up t:he oil. At present, the exact process by which feathers attract and pick up oil, be it absorption or adsorptlon, is not sufficiently understood, and for convènience will be referred to herein as "taking up".
The use of bags loosely containing feathers can greatly improve the efficiency with which oil may be removed from water. Individual bags are : sufficiently heavy not to be blown up into the air off the surface of the oil without affording the feathers an opportunity to contact the oil. Further, it has been found that for ease of operation the bags may be linked together and dlstributed on the surface of-the oil slick.
The present invention further provides a bag for removing oil from water, the bag loosely containing bird feathers and having openings sufficiently large to permit oil to enter the bag and contact the feathers . yet sufficiently small to retain the feathers within ~ 1 63570 ;
the bag. Préferably, two or more such bags may be linked together.
In the description which follows, reference will be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a cross-section through one embodiment of a bag according to the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of two bags in accordance with the present invention linked together and floating on the surface of an oil slick, and Figure 3 is a cross-section through one of the bags of Figure 2.
The bags of the present invention are loosely packed with bird feathers. Advantageously, washed and ~;
` dried chicken or turkey feathers may be employed.
Preferably, the feathers are breast, down or marabou feathers. Washed and dried curled chicken feathers in ~ particular hen bird feathers are most preferred.
The exact quantity of feathers in each bag is variable but should be less than sufficient to fill the bag and be such that the feathers can shift and mix within the bag so that they can all become coated with oil. The feathers should not be so numerous as to be stuffed or compressed in the bag. The bag should have at least some flexibility and not so stuffed with feathers i ~ ~357~
.
as to retain their shape when placed on the oil on the water. Preferably, from about one third to three quarters, more preferably from one third tc, two thirds of the volume of a bag is occupied by feathers in their normal uncompressed state when the bag is held at one end and the feathers have settled within the bag.
An example of the relationship between the volume of a bag and the feathers it contains is shown in Figure l. In this Figure a bag 1 hangs from means (not shown) holding the top end 2 of the bag. The feathers 3 which have settled at the bottom of the bag are in their normal uncompressed state. The feathers occupy approximately one half of the volume ; of the bag~
Each bag of loosely packed feathers preferably has a "tea bag" configuration, that is an approximately ~rectangular shape to permit a large surface area of feathers to be in contact with the oil. Alternatively the bag may be sausage-shaped. Preferably the bags are made of a mesh material. The mesh material may be non-woven or woven material which may be synthètic fibre, such as nylon,or natural fibre. The size of the openings in each bag will depend on thë size of feathers to be enclosed. ~evertheless, the openings in each bag must be sufficiently large to permit oil to contact the feathers contained in the bag yet , , ~ ~ ~3570 sufficiently small to retain the feathers within the bag. Typically, the maximum dimensions of each opening may be from about l~5 x lO 3 m (1.5 mm) to 3.0 x lO 3 m (3.0 mm). The bag may be 4.57 x lO 1 m (l~ feet) square and contain up to 35~ lO l kg (350 g) of feathers. The dimensi~ons of the bag can be varied to suit different conditions of use. For example for large oil slicks, bigger bags may be used. For coastal water.s near to the shore or in harkour use in difficult areas to reach smaller bags may be used. The feathers-can be dyed ~ to enable the ready identification of the bags when ; off loaded onto an oil slick.
The bags may be applied individually or linked ~ together. In the latter case, they are preferably - 15 connected in a chain, in groups of any number. For example, a chain of 5, 50 or more linked bags can be employed. The bags can be linked together ln any suitable manner using, for example, hook, tie or clip means. Thus ropes or chains can be employed to link - the bags to each other.
An embodiment in which bags are l1nked together by ropes is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. In ~hese Figures, bags lO of mesh material are attached spaced apart along two runs ll of rope by clip means 12.
Each bag lO is made of mesh material, thus enabling oil on the surface of the water on which the bags are ~63~70 distributed to contact the feathers 13 within each bag.
A variety of techniques can be employed to construct the bags. When constructed of a thermo-plastic material, the open side or sides of bags appro-;
priateiy partly filled with feathers can be sealed by the application of heat and/or pressure. ~Alternatively, the open ends may be stitched closed. A chain of linked bags may be manufacture, for example, by feeding a strip or two strips of mesh material through apparatus comprising means to seal together an appropriate part or parts of the strip(s) so as to form pockets open along at least a portion of one side thereof, means for - packing feathers loosely in the pockets through the open portion of one side of the pockets and means for sealing ~; ~ said open portion of the thus-packed pockets. If bags are produced individually and it is desired to link the bags together, each bag may be provided with means to link it to another bag. chains of bags Can be broken into~small lengths or can-be ~oinéd~ to form ` longer chains. Chains may be arranged side by side and connected together. The length of th chain that is used in any particular instance will depend on several factors including the kind and size of an oil spill, weather conditions and location.
1 ~ 63570 ~ The bags can be packed into containers prior to use. For ~xample, c~ains o~ bags can be olded accordi~n-like and packed under high pressure in a container. In this way from 6 to a tons or more of purified chickerl feathers can be pacXed in a standard 40 foot~container. ~ -The bags of loose feathers are applied to water to be treated to allow the feathers to take up the oil.
The bags may be distributed by any suitable means, for example from a helicoper, aeroplane or boat, Alternatively, linked bags can be towed by a boat through oil or they may be pulled through a slick between two boats, one boat off-loading mesh bags onto the oil whilst the other boat pulls in oil-laden bags. The bags can be 15- - off-loaded directly onto the oil or in the estimated path~of drift of the oil, although in the latter case this must be done with caution because when the feathers ~are wet they lose some of their efficiency in taking up oil.
It is possible to employ the method of the invention on oil slicks both on salt water and fresh water. Consequently, it can be employed to deal with oil spillages on inland waters, in harbours where tankers are loaded,and unloaded, and out at sea~ It is pos~sible to calcu~ate approximately the quantity of feathers that are needed to combat a particular oil s~ick by first estimating the weight of oil to be .
~ 3 63~70 picked up and then applying feathers in an amount of 1/14th to 1/20th by weight of the estimated weight of the oil. More or less can be used as desired.
Once the bags have been distributed, the feathers within each bag can slowly take up the oil with which they aré in contact without further agitation. However, bo~ the wind and the movement of the sea can help by tossing each bag about and thereby more quickly exposing all the feathers in the bag to contact with oil. Thus unlike other methods of treating oil slicks rougher conditions are beneficial. The feathers become saturated with oil after a comparatively short space of time, in some cases even within a few minutes.
~, This will depend on, for example, the nature of the oil slick and the weather conditions.
The oil saturated feathers can easily be removed from the water. The bags can be lifted out of the ~ea using nets. T~e feathers retain the oil while the water drains from the bags It is thenpossible to reclaim~the oil taken : : - ., ,;.
up by the feathers if desiréd. Generally, the oil-~,.
laden bags will float~. Alternatively, the bags may be sunk, if desired, by means of weights in or attached to the bags. - `-: ' ' .
` J
` ^ ~ 3 6357t~
The use of bags containing loose feathers can result in significantly high weight ratios of oil to feathers being recovered in short intervals of time.
A variety of oils have been successfully removed from water in tests, including Argyll crude,Kuwait crude, ~orth Sea crude, diesel oil, petroleum and mixtures of-fuel and diesel oil.
Bags of loose feathers can be used to take up oil which is in the form of "mousse". ~hen crude ` 10 oil or fuel oil or mixtures of fuel and ~oiler oil is spilled, for example, on the surface of the sea, the consistency of the oil passes through various stages. When the oil is first spilled on the surface, the more volatile fractions of it begin to evaporate lS thus causing some increase in the viscosity of the oil remaining on the sea. Depending on weather conditions this oil begins to emulsify with the sea water. If ~ conditions are more turbulent, the sea water mixes ;~ ~ with the oil and forms emulsions increasing in the amount of water. It is difficult to plot the tlme over which this occurs because it depends very much on conditions, but this can take place anywhere from ; four hours to 24 hours. The consistency of the water-oil emulsion becomes somewhat creamy, hence the name "mousse." The ~ousse can form as a continuous layer on the sea or in time can fragment into lumps .
- i ~ 63570 of varying sizes. Bags for use in picking up "mousse"
- need to be very loosely filled with feathers. The content of feathers in the bags should be at the lower end of the preferred ranges stated above,or less. It appears that the "mousse" adheres to the feathers and is taken up in this way.
..
.
: .:
' ' , .. .:. --~ -
This invention relates to the removal of oil from water.
In recent years, the problem of dealing with oil on water, for example as the result of spillage from tankers or of the blow-out of an offshore oil, well, has become of increasing concern. Various approaches have been adop.ed to combat the problem, including the use of detergents and of skimmer devices to pick up the oil from the surface of the water.
However detergents are costly and present pollution hazards themselves. Skimmer devices are usually com~lex, require considerable capital investment to manufacture and engineering and maintenance to keep fully operational, and in general only operate fully satisfactorily in calm conditions.
:
~ U.K. Specification No. 2020265 A describes - :
~ ~ an alternative approach to dealing with oil spil~
. ~
;; on water involving the use of feathers to take up the !:
oil. The specification envisages distributing feathers onto the oil. This method is also proposed ` in Oil Spill Prevention and Removal Handbook, M.
Sittig, ~oyes Data ~orp., 1974, p.392 and in an article published in the "Evening Standard" newspaper, London, :, '~
.
~ \
3 1 ~57~) United Kingdom on April 10, 1978. However, the suggested technique of using feathers is impracticable in even mild weather conditions. It is difficult to off-load the feathers accurately onto the oil. It was found that the feathers tend simply to blow over and off the i oil, picking up little if any of it. U.K. Specification ~o. 2020265 A also describes the use of feathers compressed into packages which are dropped onto oil. However, this has several disadvantages. It is difficult for the oil to penetrate into the interior of the packages. It inevitably takes some time for the oil to contact the inner feathers, and in the meantime the feathers will have become sodden with water.
Consequently their effectiveness in picking up the oil will be reduced.
, :
.~ United States Patent Specification No. 3,739,913 discloses an open-mesh container for collecting oil from the surface of open water. The container is packed with an oil-absorbing material, in particular a mixture of glass fibré and reclaimed tire cord. Again, it is ..
difficult for oil to reach the interior of the con~ainers.
A further disadvantage is that oil leaks from the absorbing material once the container has been removed from the water. The containers also require a flotation material to ensure that they do not ride too low in the water.
., .
i 3 63570 It has now been found that the problems mentioned above can be overcome by removing oil from water by a method which comprises applying to water to be treated at least one bag loosely containin~ bird feathers, the or each bag having openings sufficiently large ~o permit oil to contact the feathers yet sufficiently small to retain the feathers within the bag, and allowing the feathers to take up t:he oil. At present, the exact process by which feathers attract and pick up oil, be it absorption or adsorptlon, is not sufficiently understood, and for convènience will be referred to herein as "taking up".
The use of bags loosely containing feathers can greatly improve the efficiency with which oil may be removed from water. Individual bags are : sufficiently heavy not to be blown up into the air off the surface of the oil without affording the feathers an opportunity to contact the oil. Further, it has been found that for ease of operation the bags may be linked together and dlstributed on the surface of-the oil slick.
The present invention further provides a bag for removing oil from water, the bag loosely containing bird feathers and having openings sufficiently large to permit oil to enter the bag and contact the feathers . yet sufficiently small to retain the feathers within ~ 1 63570 ;
the bag. Préferably, two or more such bags may be linked together.
In the description which follows, reference will be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a cross-section through one embodiment of a bag according to the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of two bags in accordance with the present invention linked together and floating on the surface of an oil slick, and Figure 3 is a cross-section through one of the bags of Figure 2.
The bags of the present invention are loosely packed with bird feathers. Advantageously, washed and ~;
` dried chicken or turkey feathers may be employed.
Preferably, the feathers are breast, down or marabou feathers. Washed and dried curled chicken feathers in ~ particular hen bird feathers are most preferred.
The exact quantity of feathers in each bag is variable but should be less than sufficient to fill the bag and be such that the feathers can shift and mix within the bag so that they can all become coated with oil. The feathers should not be so numerous as to be stuffed or compressed in the bag. The bag should have at least some flexibility and not so stuffed with feathers i ~ ~357~
.
as to retain their shape when placed on the oil on the water. Preferably, from about one third to three quarters, more preferably from one third tc, two thirds of the volume of a bag is occupied by feathers in their normal uncompressed state when the bag is held at one end and the feathers have settled within the bag.
An example of the relationship between the volume of a bag and the feathers it contains is shown in Figure l. In this Figure a bag 1 hangs from means (not shown) holding the top end 2 of the bag. The feathers 3 which have settled at the bottom of the bag are in their normal uncompressed state. The feathers occupy approximately one half of the volume ; of the bag~
Each bag of loosely packed feathers preferably has a "tea bag" configuration, that is an approximately ~rectangular shape to permit a large surface area of feathers to be in contact with the oil. Alternatively the bag may be sausage-shaped. Preferably the bags are made of a mesh material. The mesh material may be non-woven or woven material which may be synthètic fibre, such as nylon,or natural fibre. The size of the openings in each bag will depend on thë size of feathers to be enclosed. ~evertheless, the openings in each bag must be sufficiently large to permit oil to contact the feathers contained in the bag yet , , ~ ~ ~3570 sufficiently small to retain the feathers within the bag. Typically, the maximum dimensions of each opening may be from about l~5 x lO 3 m (1.5 mm) to 3.0 x lO 3 m (3.0 mm). The bag may be 4.57 x lO 1 m (l~ feet) square and contain up to 35~ lO l kg (350 g) of feathers. The dimensi~ons of the bag can be varied to suit different conditions of use. For example for large oil slicks, bigger bags may be used. For coastal water.s near to the shore or in harkour use in difficult areas to reach smaller bags may be used. The feathers-can be dyed ~ to enable the ready identification of the bags when ; off loaded onto an oil slick.
The bags may be applied individually or linked ~ together. In the latter case, they are preferably - 15 connected in a chain, in groups of any number. For example, a chain of 5, 50 or more linked bags can be employed. The bags can be linked together ln any suitable manner using, for example, hook, tie or clip means. Thus ropes or chains can be employed to link - the bags to each other.
An embodiment in which bags are l1nked together by ropes is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. In ~hese Figures, bags lO of mesh material are attached spaced apart along two runs ll of rope by clip means 12.
Each bag lO is made of mesh material, thus enabling oil on the surface of the water on which the bags are ~63~70 distributed to contact the feathers 13 within each bag.
A variety of techniques can be employed to construct the bags. When constructed of a thermo-plastic material, the open side or sides of bags appro-;
priateiy partly filled with feathers can be sealed by the application of heat and/or pressure. ~Alternatively, the open ends may be stitched closed. A chain of linked bags may be manufacture, for example, by feeding a strip or two strips of mesh material through apparatus comprising means to seal together an appropriate part or parts of the strip(s) so as to form pockets open along at least a portion of one side thereof, means for - packing feathers loosely in the pockets through the open portion of one side of the pockets and means for sealing ~; ~ said open portion of the thus-packed pockets. If bags are produced individually and it is desired to link the bags together, each bag may be provided with means to link it to another bag. chains of bags Can be broken into~small lengths or can-be ~oinéd~ to form ` longer chains. Chains may be arranged side by side and connected together. The length of th chain that is used in any particular instance will depend on several factors including the kind and size of an oil spill, weather conditions and location.
1 ~ 63570 ~ The bags can be packed into containers prior to use. For ~xample, c~ains o~ bags can be olded accordi~n-like and packed under high pressure in a container. In this way from 6 to a tons or more of purified chickerl feathers can be pacXed in a standard 40 foot~container. ~ -The bags of loose feathers are applied to water to be treated to allow the feathers to take up the oil.
The bags may be distributed by any suitable means, for example from a helicoper, aeroplane or boat, Alternatively, linked bags can be towed by a boat through oil or they may be pulled through a slick between two boats, one boat off-loading mesh bags onto the oil whilst the other boat pulls in oil-laden bags. The bags can be 15- - off-loaded directly onto the oil or in the estimated path~of drift of the oil, although in the latter case this must be done with caution because when the feathers ~are wet they lose some of their efficiency in taking up oil.
It is possible to employ the method of the invention on oil slicks both on salt water and fresh water. Consequently, it can be employed to deal with oil spillages on inland waters, in harbours where tankers are loaded,and unloaded, and out at sea~ It is pos~sible to calcu~ate approximately the quantity of feathers that are needed to combat a particular oil s~ick by first estimating the weight of oil to be .
~ 3 63~70 picked up and then applying feathers in an amount of 1/14th to 1/20th by weight of the estimated weight of the oil. More or less can be used as desired.
Once the bags have been distributed, the feathers within each bag can slowly take up the oil with which they aré in contact without further agitation. However, bo~ the wind and the movement of the sea can help by tossing each bag about and thereby more quickly exposing all the feathers in the bag to contact with oil. Thus unlike other methods of treating oil slicks rougher conditions are beneficial. The feathers become saturated with oil after a comparatively short space of time, in some cases even within a few minutes.
~, This will depend on, for example, the nature of the oil slick and the weather conditions.
The oil saturated feathers can easily be removed from the water. The bags can be lifted out of the ~ea using nets. T~e feathers retain the oil while the water drains from the bags It is thenpossible to reclaim~the oil taken : : - ., ,;.
up by the feathers if desiréd. Generally, the oil-~,.
laden bags will float~. Alternatively, the bags may be sunk, if desired, by means of weights in or attached to the bags. - `-: ' ' .
` J
` ^ ~ 3 6357t~
The use of bags containing loose feathers can result in significantly high weight ratios of oil to feathers being recovered in short intervals of time.
A variety of oils have been successfully removed from water in tests, including Argyll crude,Kuwait crude, ~orth Sea crude, diesel oil, petroleum and mixtures of-fuel and diesel oil.
Bags of loose feathers can be used to take up oil which is in the form of "mousse". ~hen crude ` 10 oil or fuel oil or mixtures of fuel and ~oiler oil is spilled, for example, on the surface of the sea, the consistency of the oil passes through various stages. When the oil is first spilled on the surface, the more volatile fractions of it begin to evaporate lS thus causing some increase in the viscosity of the oil remaining on the sea. Depending on weather conditions this oil begins to emulsify with the sea water. If ~ conditions are more turbulent, the sea water mixes ;~ ~ with the oil and forms emulsions increasing in the amount of water. It is difficult to plot the tlme over which this occurs because it depends very much on conditions, but this can take place anywhere from ; four hours to 24 hours. The consistency of the water-oil emulsion becomes somewhat creamy, hence the name "mousse." The ~ousse can form as a continuous layer on the sea or in time can fragment into lumps .
- i ~ 63570 of varying sizes. Bags for use in picking up "mousse"
- need to be very loosely filled with feathers. The content of feathers in the bags should be at the lower end of the preferred ranges stated above,or less. It appears that the "mousse" adheres to the feathers and is taken up in this way.
..
.
: .:
' ' , .. .:. --~ -
Claims (28)
1. A method of removing oil from water, which method comprises applying to water to be treated at least one bag loosely containing bird feathers, the or each bag having openings sufficiently large to permit oil to contact the feathers yet sufficiently small to retain the feathers within the bag, and allowing feathers to take up the oil.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the or each bag of oil-laden feathers is picked up from the water.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the or each bag is made of mesh material.
4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the dimensions of the openings are from 1.5 x 10-3m to 3.0 x 10-3m.
5. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein from one third to two thirds of the volume of the or each bag is occupied by feathers in their normal uncompressed state when the bag is held at one end and the feathers have settled within the bag.
6. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the or each bag has a rectangular "tea bag"
configuration or is sausage-shaped.
configuration or is sausage-shaped.
7. A method according to claim 1! 2 or 3 wherein individual bags are applied to water to be treated.
8. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein two or more bags linked together are applied to water to be treated.
9. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein two or more bags linked together in a chain are applied to water to be treated.
10. A bag for removing oil from water, the bag loosely containing bird feathers and having openings sufficiently large to permit oil to enter the bag and contact the feathers yet sufficiently small to retain the feathers within the bag.
11. A bag according to claim 10 wherein the bag is made of mesh material.
12. A bag according to claim 10 wherein the dimensions of the openings are from 1.5 x 10-3 m to 3.0 x 10-3 m.
13. A bag according to claim 10 wherein from one third to two thirds of the volume of the bag is occupied by feathers in their normal uncompressed state when the bag is held at one end and the feathers have settled within the bag.
14. A bag according to claim 10 wherein the bag has a rectangular "tea bag" configuration or is sausage-shaped.
15. Two or more bags as defined in claim 10 linked together.
16. Two or more bags according to claim 15 linked together in a chain.
17. Two or more bags as defined in claim 11 linked together.
18. Two or more bags according to claim 17 linked together in a chain
19. Two or more bags as defined in claim 12 linked together.
20. Two or more bags according to claim 19 linked together in a chain.
21. Two or more bags as defined in claim 13 linked together.
22. Two or more bags according to claim 21 linked together in a chain.
23. Two or more bags as defined in claim 14 linked together.
24. Two or more bags according to claim 23 linked together in a chain.
25. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the feathers are washed and dried feathers.
26. A bag according to claim 10 wherein the feathers are washed and dried feathers.
27. Two or more bags as defined in claim 26 linked together.
28. Two or more bags according to claim 27 linked together in a chain.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7935253 | 1979-10-10 | ||
| GB7,935,253 | 1979-10-10 | ||
| GB8008198 | 1980-03-11 | ||
| GB8,008,198 | 1980-03-11 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1163570A true CA1163570A (en) | 1984-03-13 |
Family
ID=26273156
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000361998A Expired CA1163570A (en) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-10-08 | Removal of oil from water |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4439324A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0027359B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1163570A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3062457D1 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO803024L (en) |
| PH (1) | PH19090A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6040032A (en) * | 1993-04-28 | 2000-03-21 | Israeel; Joseph | Absorbent article for collecting non-aqueous liquids and a method for manufacturing the absorbent article |
Families Citing this family (38)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE431617B (en) * | 1980-08-05 | 1984-02-20 | Eriksson Hans | WAY TO REMOVE LIQUID |
| JPS5942960U (en) * | 1982-09-16 | 1984-03-21 | 株式会社潤工社 | Water surface oil detection device |
| US4512890A (en) * | 1983-12-05 | 1985-04-23 | Medbury Seward J | Means for the sorption of a petroleum product from a liquid |
| US4759847A (en) * | 1983-12-05 | 1988-07-26 | Medbury Seward J | Filter for the sorption of a petroleum product from a liquid |
| DE3447710A1 (en) * | 1984-12-28 | 1986-08-14 | Didier-Werke Ag, 6200 Wiesbaden | DEVICE FOR THE REMOVAL OF OIL FILMS ON WATER |
| FR2611146B1 (en) * | 1987-02-19 | 1991-02-15 | Charbonnages Ste Chimique | DEPOLLUTION ARTICLE AND METHOD FOR ABSORBING POLLUTANTS |
| US4817647A (en) * | 1987-11-02 | 1989-04-04 | Green Kleen International Inc. | Method of removing oil from a golf course |
| FR2635332B1 (en) * | 1988-06-30 | 1994-05-20 | Norsolor | ARTICLE AND METHOD FOR ABSORBING POLLUTANTS |
| EP0353314A1 (en) * | 1988-08-01 | 1990-02-07 | Baromfitermelok Egyesulese | Process and installation for the purification of waste water containing emulsified fat, and discharging device |
| BR8901914A (en) * | 1989-04-14 | 1990-11-06 | Anivaldo Da Cruz Grossi | OIL CAPTOR |
| US4919820A (en) * | 1989-04-17 | 1990-04-24 | Lafay William T | Oil absorption method |
| DE3913575C2 (en) * | 1989-04-25 | 1998-10-29 | Arnold Dipl Ing Vogts | Process for separating and picking up oil slicks on water |
| US5000341A (en) * | 1989-06-26 | 1991-03-19 | Kohji Shirota | Container with absorbent interior |
| US5039414A (en) * | 1989-08-01 | 1991-08-13 | Mueller Marc B | Process for separating and/or recovering hydrocarbon oils from water using biodegradable absorbent sponges |
| US5004372A (en) * | 1990-06-27 | 1991-04-02 | Dickie Gerald M | Spill containment system |
| US5064309A (en) * | 1990-07-12 | 1991-11-12 | Dickie Gerald M | Dockside spill containment system |
| US5084171A (en) * | 1991-01-17 | 1992-01-28 | Specialty Welding & Fabricating Of New York Inc. | Oil recovery mop |
| US5705076A (en) * | 1991-05-15 | 1998-01-06 | Brinkley; Herman E. | Method for filtering contaminants from a mixture |
| NO179604C (en) * | 1994-01-19 | 1996-11-13 | Tore Sundquist | Oil absorbing article which includes pine bark |
| US5968354A (en) * | 1994-11-28 | 1999-10-19 | Brinkley; Herman E. | Apparatus for recovering oil-based liquid |
| US5863440A (en) * | 1996-05-24 | 1999-01-26 | Abtech Industries, Inc. | Methods for ameliorating oil spills in marine and inland waters |
| US5676839A (en) * | 1996-08-21 | 1997-10-14 | Shippert; Ronald D. | Floatable oil and debris collection device |
| US6344519B1 (en) | 1997-01-10 | 2002-02-05 | Abtech Industries, Inc. | Systems for ameliorating aqueous hydrocarbon spills |
| US6541569B1 (en) | 1997-01-10 | 2003-04-01 | Abtech Industries, Inc. | Polymer alloys, morphology and materials for environmental remediation |
| US6099723A (en) * | 1997-06-06 | 2000-08-08 | Abtech Industries, Inc. | Catchbasin systems for filtering hydrocarbon spills |
| JP4470133B2 (en) * | 1998-02-18 | 2010-06-02 | アブテック インダストリーズ，インコーポレイテッド | Curve-Inlet Storm Drain Systems for filtering waste and hydrocarbons |
| US6080307A (en) * | 1998-09-29 | 2000-06-27 | Abtech Industries, Inc. | Storm drain systems for filtering trash and hydrocarbons |
| CZ291327B6 (en) * | 1999-11-24 | 2003-02-12 | Vlček Spol. S R.O. | Organic absorption geotextile |
| AR028143A1 (en) * | 2000-02-29 | 2003-04-30 | Ciancaglini Y Asoc S A | PROCEDURE FOR THE REMOVAL AND COLLECTION OF HYDROCARBONS, PRODUCT TO BE USED IN THE PROCEDURE TO CARRY OUT THE PRODUCT AND USE OF THE SAME IN THIS PROCEDURE |
| US6531059B1 (en) | 2000-10-05 | 2003-03-11 | Abtech Industries, Inc. | Suspended runoff water filter |
| AR061179A1 (en) * | 2007-06-04 | 2008-08-06 | Ciancaglini Y Asoc S A R | A HYDROCARBON SEQUESTRATIVE PRODUCT, METHOD FOR OBTAINING THE PRODUCT, METHOD FOR THE HYDROCARBON SEQUESTRATION AND PROVISION FOR THE HYDROCARBON SEQUESTRATION. |
| WO2013134909A1 (en) * | 2012-03-11 | 2013-09-19 | 安徽羽冠生态环境材料有限责任公司 | Feather oil absorbent boom structure and preparation method therefor |
| WO2013143067A1 (en) * | 2012-03-27 | 2013-10-03 | 安徽羽冠生态环境材料有限责任公司 | Durable feather oil absorbent felt, method for fabricating oil sorbent boom, and oil sorbent boom structure |
| WO2013159182A1 (en) * | 2012-04-23 | 2013-10-31 | Nicole Gastle | Methods for oil spill remediation |
| CN103265093B (en) * | 2013-06-04 | 2014-06-25 | 浙江华友钴业股份有限公司 | Oil removal method of oil-bearing solution |
| WO2015168633A1 (en) * | 2014-05-02 | 2015-11-05 | Opflex Technologies, Llc | Spill removal method and system |
| CA2980899A1 (en) | 2014-12-01 | 2016-06-09 | Opflex Technologies, Llc | Water column remediation apparatus and method |
| DE102017001223B4 (en) * | 2017-02-09 | 2019-05-29 | Wolfgang Zachert | Device for cleaning an oil contaminated with oil |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1201554A (en) * | 1913-05-07 | 1916-10-17 | Dixie Cotton Felt Mattress Company | Pillow. |
| DE2053309A1 (en) * | 1969-11-03 | 1971-05-13 | WR Grace & Co , Cambridge, Mass (VStA) | Oil collection pack and its use |
| DE1961427A1 (en) * | 1969-12-08 | 1971-07-15 | Hans Gubela | Substance for absorbing and binding oil, petrol, grease or similar chemical agents and containers |
| US3679058A (en) * | 1970-01-27 | 1972-07-25 | Millard F Smith | Oil collection boom |
| US3739913A (en) * | 1970-07-16 | 1973-06-19 | Johns Manville | Device for fencing and absorbing contaminating oil spills on water |
| US4052306A (en) * | 1976-10-12 | 1977-10-04 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Oil sweep |
| GB2020265B (en) * | 1978-04-13 | 1982-10-20 | Hoff G | Method and allaratus for picking up oil |
| FR2425878A1 (en) * | 1978-05-19 | 1979-12-14 | Anvar | Purificn. of effluent contg. organic pollutants - by passing through bed contg. keratinic material |
-
1980
- 1980-10-08 CA CA000361998A patent/CA1163570A/en not_active Expired
- 1980-10-09 EP EP80303563A patent/EP0027359B1/en not_active Expired
- 1980-10-09 DE DE8080303563T patent/DE3062457D1/en not_active Expired
- 1980-10-09 PH PH24694A patent/PH19090A/en unknown
- 1980-10-09 NO NO803024A patent/NO803024L/en unknown
-
1982
- 1982-06-18 US US06/389,760 patent/US4439324A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6040032A (en) * | 1993-04-28 | 2000-03-21 | Israeel; Joseph | Absorbent article for collecting non-aqueous liquids and a method for manufacturing the absorbent article |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0027359A1 (en) | 1981-04-22 |
| US4439324A (en) | 1984-03-27 |
| DE3062457D1 (en) | 1983-04-28 |
| PH19090A (en) | 1985-12-19 |
| EP0027359B1 (en) | 1983-03-23 |
| NO803024L (en) | 1981-04-13 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |