You are here:
DEVELOPMENT OF A SORBENT DISTRIBUTION AND RECOVERY SYSTEM
Citation:
Shaw, S., R. Bishop, AND R. Powers. DEVELOPMENT OF A SORBENT DISTRIBUTION AND RECOVERY SYSTEM. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/7-78/217.
Description:
This report 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 utilizes an open cell polyurethane foam in small cubes to absorb the floating oil. The system is highly mobile and can be transported in two pickup trucks. The sorbent is transported and distributed over the water surface by means of a pneumatic broadcaster. An inclined, open wire mesh belt conveyor is used to remove the saturated sorbent from the water. The recovered oil and water is removed from the sorbent by squeezing in a converging belt press or regenerator. After regeneration, the foam is reapplied to the oil slick. The foam can be reused for a great many cycles. Tests of the system, using both diesel fuel and lubricating oil, were conducted at EPA's OHMSETT facility. The sweep speeds ranged up to 5 knots in both calm water and waves. Oil collection rates of 10.5 cubic meters/h were achieved. The oil content of the recovered liquid varied from 38% to 79%.