Solar-assisted fast cleanup of heavy oil spills using a photothermal sponge

AbstractIn the face of technology failures in preventing oil from reaching beaches and coasts after catastrophic oil spills in the 1960s and early 1970s, the oil industry and governmental officials needed to quickly reconsider their idea of prevention. Initially, prevention meant stopping spilled oil from coating beaches and coasts. Exploring the presentations at three oil-spill conferences in 1969, 1971 and 1973, this idea of prevention changed as the technological optimism of finding effective methods met the realities of oil-spill cleanup. By 1973, prevention meant stopping oil spills before they happened. This rapid policy transformation came about because the oil industry could not hide the visual evidence of the source of their technology failures. In this century, as policymakers confront invisible pollutants such as pesticides and greenhouse gases, considering ways to visually show the source of the pollution along with the effects could quicken policy decisions.

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OIL SPILL CLEANUP WITH DISPERSANTS: A BOOMED OIL SPILL EXPERIMENT

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-1981-1-263 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 1981 (1) ◽

pp. 263-268

Author(s):

Joseph Buckley ◽

David Green ◽

Blair Humphrey

Keyword(s):

Water Column ◽

Oil Spill ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Sea Water ◽

Visual Observation ◽

Oil Droplets ◽

Oil Boom ◽

Dispersed Oil ◽

Vertical Density ◽

Oil Spill Cleanup

ABSTRACT Three experimental oil spills of 200, 400, and 200 litres (l) were conducted in October, 1978, in a semiprotected coastal area on Canada's west coast. The surface slicks were restrained with a Bennett inshore oil boom. The spilled oil was chemically dispersed using Corexit 9527, applied as a 10-percent solution in sea water and sprayed from a boat. The dispersed oil was monitored fluorometrically for some hours. Surface and dispersed oil were sampled for chemical analysis. The highest recorded concentration of dispersed oil was 1 part per million (ppm). After a short time (30 minutes), concentrations around 0.05 ppm were normal, decreasing to background within 5 hours. The concentrations were low compared to those expected for complete dispersion which, as visual observation confirmed, was not achieved. The dispersed oil did not mix deeper into the water column with the passage of time, in contrast to predicted behaviour and in spite of the lack of a significant vertical density gradient in the sea water. This was attributed to the buoyancy of the dispersed oil droplets and the limited vertical turbulence in the coastal locale of the experiment. The integrated quantity of oil in the water column decreased more rapidly than either the mean oil concentration of the cloud or the maximum concentration indicating that some of the dispersed oil was rising back to the surface. The surfacing of dispersed oil was confirmed visually during the experiment. The mixing action of the spray boat and breaker boards apparently created large oil droplets that did not form a stable dispersion. Horizontal diffusion of the dispersed oil was initially more rapid than expected, but the rate of spreading did not increase with time as predicted. The results imply that the scale of diffusion was larger than the scale of turbulence which again can be attributed to the locale of the experiment.

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LOGISTICS FOR THE CONDUCT OF CONTROLLED OIL SPILL EXPERIMENTON BIORESTORATION OF FRESHWATER WETLANDS

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-2001-2-1467 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 2001 (2) ◽

pp. 1467-1469

Author(s):

Stéphane Grenon ◽

Vincent Jarry ◽

Darcy Longpré ◽

Kenneth Lee ◽

Albert D. Venosa

Keyword(s):

Crude Oil ◽

Oil Spill ◽

Oil Spills ◽

The United States ◽

Freshwater Wetlands ◽

Environmental Groups ◽

Emergency Responders ◽

And Control ◽

Oil Spill Cleanup ◽

St Lawrence River

ABSTRACT The St. Lawrence River, situated between Canada and the United States, provides a major transport route in North America for the transport of millions of tons of crude oil, condensates, and refined products each year. In addition, as one of the largest rivers in the world, it is of major ecological significance. For example, over 55,000 hectares of wetlands are found along the St. Lawrence alone. These areas provide habitat for wildlife, the nurseries for fisheries, and control coastal erosion are highly vulnerable to oil spills. Furthermore, as traditional oil spill cleanup methods may be ineffective or cause more damage, emergency responders are considering less intrusive methods such as biorestoration as operational countermeasures. A biorestoration experiment was designed to measure the effectiveness of this method in the St. Lawrence River. To conduct this experiment, 1,200 liters of crude oil were to be spilled in a controlled manner over an experimental zone of 750 m2 in a marsh area. To obtain regulatory approvals from governmental agencies, environmental groups and, more importantly, to avoid the “not in my backyard” protests from the local communities, site selection, emergency planning, contingency measures, and especially community meetings, were all necessary steps towards the acceptance of the project. This controlled spill was done in June 1998 without any incident. Sampling of the experimental site will be completed in the fall of 2000. This paper aims to provide insights on the steps needed to gain acceptance from concerned citizens for the conduct of a controlled oil spill experiment.

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A Survey of Classical and New Response Methods for Marine Oil Spill Cleanup

Marine Technology and SNAME News ◽

10.5957/mt1.1994.31.2.79 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 31 (02) ◽

pp. 79-93

Author(s):

Emilio A. Tsocalis ◽

Thomas W. Kowenhoven ◽

Anastassios N. Perakis

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Oil Recovery ◽

Heavy Oil ◽

Heavy Oil Recovery ◽

New Materials ◽

Marine Oil ◽

Methods And Techniques ◽

Oil Spill Response ◽

Oil Spill Cleanup

Both classical and new marine oil spill cleanup response methods and techniques are discussed. The intention is mainly to answer the fundamental questions of when, where, and how to apply the different methods. A brief review of the stages of the oil spill response problem is first presented, followed by the factors that influence the different methods. This is followed by an analysis of some new cleanup methods and improvements to existing methods, specifically: bioremediation, the use of more efficient ships for skimming, the use of fishing nets for heavy oil recovery, and new materials and designs of sorbents. Some cases are also analyzed to evaluate the performance of some methods under real conditions.

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Oil Spills and Cleanup Bills: Federal Recovery of Oil Spill Cleanup Costs

Harvard Law Review ◽

10.2307/1340623 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 93 (8) ◽

pp. 1761 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Oil Spill Cleanup

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIOREMEDIATION FOR OIL SPILL CLEANUP IN COASTAL WETLANDS: PRODUCT IMPACTS AND BIOREMEDIATION POTENTIAL

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-1995-1-97 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 1995 (1) ◽

pp. 97-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Irving A. Mendelssohn ◽

Qianxin Lin ◽

Karolien Debusschere ◽

S. Penland ◽

Charles B. Henry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Salt Marshes ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Field Trials ◽

Plant Response ◽

Experimental Program ◽

Plant Responses ◽

Marsh Soil ◽

Oil Biodegradation ◽

Oil Spill Cleanup

ABSTRACT Although bioremediation for oil spill cleanup has received considerable attention in recent years, its satisfactory use in the cleanup of oil spills in the wetland environment is still questionable and generally untested. We have initiated a multidisciplinary experimental program to evaluate the use of both microbial seeding and fertilizer as means of enhancing oil biodegradation in coastal salt marshes. We are utilizing controlled greenhouse experiments as well as field trials to test the efficacy and ecological safety of these enhanced biodegradation methodologies. This paper summarizes the overall scope of the study and presents some preliminary findings concerning marsh plant response to the bioremediation agents. We shall report on the results of the first year of this three-year investigation. Sods of marsh (soil and vegetation intact), approximately 30 cm in diameter and 25 cm deep, collected from the inland zone of a Spartina alterniflora dominated salt marsh in south Louisiana were used in a greenhouse experiment to identify the effects on plant and soil responses of the following treatments, with and without oil: seeding product, fertilizer product, and control (no product). Mesocosms were sampled for petroleum hydrocarbon chemistry to identify and quantify the degree of oil biodegradation, soil microbial response to determine the effect of the bioremediation products on the microbial communities that are performing the oil biodegradation, soil chemistry to determine the effect of the bioremediation products (such as nutrients, soil reducing conditions, and soil toxins) on those factors that limit the growth of microbes and plants, and plant response to evaluate the effects of the oil and products on plant vigor and growth. This paper presents selected plant responses that demonstrated that the bioremediation products tested had no adverse impact on plant growth. Additionally, soil respiration was increased by fertilizer, but not microbial, application.

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OHMSETT TESTS OF A ROPE-MOP SKIMMER IN ICE-INFESTED WATERS1

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-1985-1-31 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 1985 (1) ◽

pp. 31-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. S. Shum ◽

M. Borst Mason & Hanger-Silas

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Arctic Region ◽

Cold Weather ◽

The Arctic ◽

Test Tank ◽

Broken Ice ◽

Petroleum Development ◽

Oil Spill Cleanup

ABSTRACT The increase in petroleum development activities in the arctic region has raised concerns over potential oil spills during the broken ice season. Currently, exploratory drilling for oil and gas is restricted during this season due to the lack of proven oil spill cleanup methods for broken ice fields. Test programs have been conducted at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Oil and Hazardous Materials Simulated Environmental Test Tank (OHMSETT) to determine the feasibility of cold weather testing and to evaluate various oil spill cleanup methods considered for use in the arctic. This paper describes a test program to determine the practicality of using a catamaran-mounted rope-mop skimmer for spill cleanup in broken ice fields. An Oil Map Pollution Control, Ltd., prototype arctic skimmer was tested in the test tank under controlled conditions during January 30 to February 7, 1984. Freshwater ice cubes of 250 to 280 millimeters (mm) were used in the tests to approximate a broken ice field. During tests, a predetermined ice condition was established across the encounter width of the rope mops and oil was distributed over the ice. The oil and ice were channeled into the skimmer by two booms, which were joined to the skimmer at the bow. Nine tests were conducted at a tow speed of 1 knot using Circo 4X light oil. During the tests, ice concentrations were varied from 0 to 75 percent of the surface area, and oil slick thickness varied from 3 to 8 mm. The test results demonstrated the spill cleanup capability of the skimmer in ice-infested waters having up to 50 percent ice coverage. At higher ice concentrations, the skimmer was ineffective due to ice jamming at the skimmer inlet.

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OIL SPILL DISPERSANTS – CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-1971-1-263 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 1971 (1) ◽

pp. 263-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Gerard P. Canevari

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Past History ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

Field Application ◽

Current Status ◽

Future Outlook ◽

Application Techniques ◽

Pros And Cons ◽

Oil Spill Cleanup

ABSTRACT The use of chemical dispersants for the handling of oil spills has had a brief but highly turbulent history. Despite extensive laboratory data and field application experience, their role in oil spill cleanup is still controversial. This paper reviews some of this past history as background in order to derive the pros and cons regarding their use. Opinions vary from an extreme of no use whatsoever to an acceptance of this as the only practical technique to combat an oil spill under rough sea conditions. Improvements in the formulation of dispersants during the past several years are reviewed. These innovations involve modifications to improve effectiveness, application techniques and toxicological properties. A brief outline of the mechanism of dispersing is presented to permit a better understanding of these formulation modifications and the manner in which said changes influence dispersant properties. The future outlook for dispersants, based on current and anticipated research in this field, is also discussed. This research involves biological as well as operational aspects of dispersants.

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ENHANCING THE CAPABILITIES OF SALVAGE-BASED POLLUTION DEFENSE

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-1995-1-241 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 1995 (1) ◽

pp. 241-243

Author(s):

John Arnold Witte

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Oil Spills ◽

International Agreements ◽

Public Concern ◽

Set Up ◽

Oil Spill Cleanup

ABSTRACT Given the inherent difficulties of oil spill cleanup, salvage-based pollution defense has come to the fore in political and regulatory circles. This is partially a response to public concern over large spills and agrees with the logic of the International Salvage Union's position that preventing a spill is more important, and easier, than cleaning up after one. The report of the Donaldson Inquiry—set up after the grounding of the Braer in 1993—focused on defense against pollution rather than cleanup. The report advocated, among other things, franchises of salvage companies paid for by potential polluters. Members of the International Salvage Union can be active partners in this type of defense against oil spills. Some international agreements are needed to make their efforts more effective.

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