CONTROL AND CONFINEMENT OF OIL POLLUTION ON WATER WITH MONOMOLECULAR SURFACE FILMS

Forty-seven chemicals were investigated to determine their usefulness as practical materials with which to form single-molecule-thick films that are capable of reducing the area covered by oil spilled on water. These chemicals are able to maintain the oil in a layer up to a maximum of approximately one-half inch thick by preventing it from spreading over the water surface. Such materials, classified as Collecting Agents by the National Contingency Plan, may be quite useful in increasing the efficiency of oil recovery devices, since all such devices perform better on thicker layers of oil. All materials investigated are commercially available in large quantities. Properties examined in this investigation included freezing points, viscosities, specific gravities, maximum film pressures achievable by the single-molecule-thick film, relative durabilities of materials in monomolecular layers confining oil on water in motion, and film pressures as a function of surface concentration of the monolayer forming materials.

• Corporate Authors:

  Naval Research Laboratory

  Stennis Space Center, MS  United States  39529-5004
• Authors:
  • Garrett, W D
  • Barger, W R
• Publication Date: 1972-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 63 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Containing equipment; Oil spill cleanup; Surface active agents; Water quality management
• Old TRIS Terms: Oil containment systems; Oil spill control
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00041257
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NRL-MR-2451 Final Rpt
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 23 1973 12:00AM