Abstract |
In recent years, as petroleum pollution has increased, commercial products appeared on the market to combat that pollution. These products, metal degreasers, ingredients for plastics, absorbents for use in clean g up industrial effluents, and the like. The Institut des Peches (Fisheries Institute) has received a tota of 101 products for purposes of comparative study and selection of the best of them. The study was done under laboratory conditions, using standard methods in order to obtain accurate, reproducible, and exploitable results. Three categories were established, according to how they react with hydrocarbons. The emulsifiers, the base of which are organic solvents, and surface-active products, eliminat the oil on the surface by converting it into a fine emulsion. After that the degradation of the oil by marine bacteria is much more rapid and its dispersion better. The agglomerants are low density powders that absorb the surface hydrocarbons and facilitate their recovery. The precipitants also are absorbent powders, but are heavier than water, and thus cause the oil to settle on the sea bottom. |