DISTRIBUTED REUSABLE-SORBENT OIL RECOVERY SYSTEM

This paper describes the design, fabrication and test of a prototype system for the recovery of spilled oil from the surface of river, estuarine and harbor waters. The system uses an open cell polyurethane foam, in the form of small cubes, to absorb the floating oil. The foam is capable of being reused for more than 100 cycles. Tests of the system, using both diesel fuel and lubricating oil, were conducted at the EPA's OHMSETT test tank. The sweep speeds ranged up to five knots in both calm water and in waves. System throughput efficiencies ranged from 45% to nearly 100%. Oil collection rates of up to 2,300 gal/hr were achieved. The oil content of the recovered liquid varied from 38% to 79%.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the Oil Spill Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, March 8-10, 1977.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Petroleum Institute

  1220 L Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20005-4070
• Authors:
  • Shaw, S H
  • Dorrler, J S
• Conference:
  • Presented at the Oil Spill Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, March 8-10, 1977.
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 247-250

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Applications; Chemical processes; Estuaries; Foamed materials; Harbors; Inland waterways; Oil sorbents; Oil spill cleanup; Oil spills; Polyurethane resins; Sorption; Water pollution
• Old TRIS Terms: Chemical operations; Estuarine pollution; Harbor pollution; Inland waterways pollution; Oil recovery systems; Oil recovey
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation; Research; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00163082
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Report/Paper Numbers: No. 4284 Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM