Identification of oil spills in harbours by means of pattern recognition

For environmental control purposes, floating oil spills in Europoort (Rotterdam) harbours must often be identified and their sources located. Pattern recognition, applied to gas chromatographic data for the spill and for various suspected sources such as oil from bunkers of passing ships and from harbour installations, can lead to definite conclusions, particularly after artificial weathering formulae have been used. The general approach for tackling these problems and the complicating factor of weathering of the oil spills is discussed.     

A mannitol based phase selective supergelator offers a simple, viable and greener method to combat marine oil spills

Though phase selective organogelators (PSOGs) are thought to be useful for oil spill recovery, all known PSOGs require a water-miscible carrier solvent for their introduction. Providing a simple, cheap, green and practical solution to the problem of oil spills, we report a nontoxic super-PSOG that can be sprayed aerially in a carrier solvent destined to get co-congealed with the oil.     

Oil spill cleanup by raw flax fiber: Modification effect,sorption isotherm,kinetics and thermodynamics

Modification of raw flax fiber by acetylating process and microwave energy was useful in the application of oil spill cleanup. The change in fibers was characterized by scientific analysis(FTIR, SEM, XRD and contact angle). The results indicate that the modified fibers by the acetylating process have extra hydrophobic properties than both microwave radiation and raw fibers. Oil/Artificial seawater(3.5% salinity by NaCl) system (O/W-S) was used as a liquid phase operation system. Fast oil sorption was reached at 6 min and attained(equilibrium) at 10 min. Acetylated fiber(ACF)has higher oil sorption capacity(24.54 g/g) than both raw(13.75 g/g) and microwave fiber(17.42 g/g) with exothermic effect. The sorption kinetics and isotherms indicate that the oil sorption onto ACF agreement with pseudo second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm model. Also, the economic reusing of fiber was evaluated. The process of acetylation demonstrated the ability to improve the absorptive properties of the fibers, which makes them able to compete with synthetic fibers in the oil spill cleanup and industrial applications, as well as cheap and eco-friendly due to their biodegradation.     

Super‐fast oil uptake using porous ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene sheets

This paper presents the oil uptake of porous sorbent polymer sheets consisting of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene. A comprehensive set of experiments are performed showing the saturation contact time, retention value, mechanical properties, oil pick‐up ratio, pick‐up density, and dynamic dripping profile. Kinetic modeling of the oil sorption is also provided. The experimental results show a good correlation with the pseudo‐second order model. The sheets exhibit high oil uptake speeds, requiring less than 2 min in contact with the oil to reach saturation. The sheets fulfill the criteria of high uptake kinetics, high sorption capacity, and high mechanical strength simultaneously. Those characteristics enable their use in practical spill response. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Continuous separation of oil from water surface by a novel tubular unit based on graphene coated polyurethane sponge

We develop a new strategy for the continuous separation of oil from water surface using a novel tubular unit based on graphene coated polyurethane (P‐GEPU) sponge, and the P‐GEPU sponge was fabricated by a simple dip‐coating method; the as‐prepared sponges could adsorb different kinds of oil and organic liquids while repelling water. Moreover, the tubular unit was assembled by wrapping the P‐GEPU sponge on a porous PU hollow tube and combined with the accessories including pipes and joints. The tubular unit could float on the surface of water, and a continuous oil collection from water surface through vacuum pressure could be fulfilled, showing a high oil‐water separation efficiency (>96%). Finally, oil‐water separation efficiency remains above 93% after 10 cycles, exhibiting excellent reusability. In addition, our findings are easily scaled up, showing a great promise for large‐scale oil spill remediation.     

Facile fabrication of hydrophobic octadecylamine-functionalized polyurethane foam for oil spill cleanup

To improve the hydrophobic property of polyurethane foam for oil spill cleanup, the polyurethane foam with nitrile groups is modified by grafting with oleophilic octadecylamine. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical contact angle measuring device are used to characterize the modified polyurethane foam. The results show that the octadecylamine has been successfully grafted onto the polyurethane foam and improved the foam hydrophobicity. The modified foam exhibits higher contact angle (146.3 ± 2.8°) compared to the unmodified foam (121.4 ± 3.2°). Moreover, the water sorption of the modified foam is 0.11g/g, which is much lower than that of the unmodified foam (0.84g/g). On the other hand, the sorption capacity of the modified foam for toluene, gasoline and diesel sorption is increased by 20?40%. Therefore, the polyurethane foam prepared by us can be effectively used in oil/solvent spill cleanup.     

Oil-Water Separation Performance of Electrospray Reduced Graphene Oxide Microspheres with a Local Radially Aligned and Porous Structure

Micro-size oil adsorbents are effective for the rapid remediation of special oil spills. Here, N-doped reduced graphene oxide(RGO) microspheres(ca. 150 μm in diameter) with a local radially aligned and porous structure are fabricated by combining electrospray-freeze-drying with thermal treatment for rapid separation of oil-water. Owing to its hydrophobic/oleophilic properties and oriented structure, the N-doped RGO microspheres achieve high capacities and fast adsorption rates for a variety of oils and organic solvents. Furthermore, excellent oil-water separation performance on floating oil/oil-water emulsions and stable cyclic adsorption capacities are obtained for the local radially aligned and porous microsphere. Therefore, N-doped RGO microspheres with the unique porous structure have the potential for the remediation of oily sewage and oil spills.     

Evaluation of Hydrophobic Polyurethane Foam as Sorbent Material for Oil Spill Recovery

In this work, hydrophobic polyurethane foam was prepared using hy-drosilicone oil-grafted polybutadiene as soft segment via foaming technology. It was found that the hydrophobic polyurethane foams exhibited good hydrophobic capability and were regenerated easily. Of great interest, the hydrophobic polyurethane foams expand in contact with the oils. This indicates that the process of sorption by the hydrophobic polyurethane foams involves both the filling of the pores with oils and the absorption of oils by the polymer regions (polyurethane elastomer skeleton), and the adsorption capacity of the hydrophobic polyurethane foams can be enhanced by the swelling of the polyurethane elastomer skeleton. We can use this finding to improve the adsorption capacity of the hydrophobic polyurethane foams without merely changing the porosity. The effect of the swelling property of the hydrophobic polyurethane foams on the sorption capacity was further investigated. The results suggest that the hydrophobic polyurethane foams are promising in the application of oil spill recovery.     

Low‐molecular‐weight organogelators as functional materials for oil spill remediation

Oil spills from tankers are one of the major types of man‐made disasters that impact the marine environment, and they have been shown to have long‐lasting effects. On prevention of the spread of oil through rapid cleanup of spills, low‐molecular‐weight organogelators have received much attention because of their ability to tune their properties through rational design. In this mini‐review, I present a brief summary of studies focused on the remediation of oil spills via a chemical method, which involves the use of low‐molecular‐weight organogelators that form organogels with fuel oils or organic solvents. Moreover, recent attempts to create new improved molecular organogels composed of commercially available simple organogelators via a mixing induced enhancement method for solidifying oil are also discussed. In addition, polymer organogelators for oil spills are discussed in relation to low‐molecular weight gelators. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fast solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry procedure for oil fingerprinting. Application to the Prestige oil spill

A rapid and simple fractionation procedure using solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges was developed for an accurate determination of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in petroleum residues and further application in chemical fingerprinting of oil spills by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Among the adsorbents evaluated, SiO2/C3-CN exhibited the best selectivity, providing, by elution with n-hexane (4 ml) and n-hexane-CH2Cl2 (1:1) (5 ml), two well-resolved aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon fractions, with recoveries of 97 +/- 7.2 and 99.7 +/- 13.9%, respectively. The SPE fractionation procedure was compared with the conventional silica-alumina adsorption chromatography showing similar results but practical advantages in terms of reproducibility, analysis time, solvent reduction and cost. Moreover, is particularly suitable for routine analysis with a high sample throughput. The developed methodology was tested in the characterization of fuel-oil samples collected along the Spanish north-west coast, after the Prestige oil spill accident.     

Interfacial interactions between hydrocarbon liquids and solid surfaces used in mechanical oil spill recovery

The goal of this research was to study wetting and adhesion processes between various petroleum products and solid surfaces. When a liquid interacts with a solid surface, wetting, spreading and adhesion processes determine its behavior. These processes are of great importance for understanding oil spill response as well as oil spill behavior on land and in near shore environments, and oil extraction from the reservoir rock. The current study aimed at analyzing oil affinity and adhesion to surfaces used in the mechanical recovery of oil spills. A number of crude oils and petroleum products were tested with the surface materials that are used or may potentially be used to recover oil spills. Through the study of contact angles and recovered mass, it was found that the behavior of the oils at the solid surface is largely determined by the roughness of the solid. For smooth solids, contact angle hysteresis is a good indicator of the ability of the solid to retain oil. For rougher elastomers, the advancing contact angle can be used to predict wetting and adhesion processes between oil and solid. This study showed that oleophilic elastomers (e.g., Neoprene and Hypalon) have higher oil recovery potential than smooth polymers.     

油水分离用超疏水纤维素基织物的制备及研究进展

近年来,石油泄漏和有机污染物排放对海洋环境和人类健康造成了严重的危害,开发高效、耐用的油水分离材料处理含油废水势在必行.纤维素基织物由于其多孔性、可再生性及优异的柔韧性在油水分离材料的制备中受到广泛的关注.本文详细介绍和讨论了各种不同方法制备超疏水纤维素基织物的研究现状,并阐述了超疏水纤维素基织物在油水分离中的应用,最...     

Characterization and identification of the Detroit River mystery oil spill (2002)

In this paper, a case study of the Detroit River mystery oil spill (2002) is presented that demonstrates the utility of detailed and integrated oil fingerprinting in investigating unknown or suspected oil spills. The detailed diagnostic oil fingerprinting techniques include determination of hydrocarbon groups and semi-quantitative product screening, analysis of oil-characteristic biomarkers and the extended suite of parent and alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and quantitative determination of a variety of diagnostic ratios of "source-specific marker" compounds. The detailed chemical fingerprinting data and results highlight the followings: (1) The spill samples were largely composed of used lube oil mixed with smaller portion of diesel fuel. (2) The diesel in the samples had been weathered and degraded. (3) Sample 3 collected from N. Boblo Island on 14 April was more weathered (most probably caused by more evaporation and water-washing) than samples 1 and 2. (4) All fingerprinting results clearly demonstrated oils in three samples were the same, and they came from the same source. (5) Most PAH compounds were from the diesel portion in the spill samples, while the biomarker compounds were largely from the lube oil. (6) Input of pyrogenic PAHs to the spill samples was clearly demonstrated. The pyrogenic PAHs were most probably produced from combustion and motor lubrication processes, and the lube oil in these spill samples was waste lube oil.     

Adsorption of hydrocarbons on organo-clays--implications for oil spill remediation

Organo-clays synthesised by the ion exchange of sodium in Wyoming Na-montmorillonite (SWy-2-MMT) with three surfactants: (a) octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (ODTMA), formula C(21)H(46)NBr; (b) dodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDDMA), formula C(22)H(48)BrN; and (c) di(hydrogenated tallow)dimethylammonium chloride were tested for hydrocarbon adsorption. Using diesel, hydraulic oil, and engine oil an evaluation was made of the effectiveness of the sorbent materials for a range of hydrocarbon products that are likely to be involved in land-based oil spills. It was found that the hydrocarbon sorption capacity of the organo-clays depended upon the materials and surfactants used in the organo-clay synthesis. Greater adsorption was obtained if the surfactant contained two or more hydrocarbon long chains. Extensive utilisation of chemometrics principally with the aid of MCDM methods, produced models which consistently ranked the organo-clays well above any of the competitors including commercial benchmark materials. Thus, the use of organo-clays for cleaning up oil spills is feasible due to its many desirable properties such as high hydrocarbon sorption and retention capacities, hydrophobicity. The negative effects of the use of organo-clays for oil-spill cleanup are the cost, the biodegradability, and recyclability of the organo-clays.     

Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic polyethylene aerogel coated natural rubber latex foam for oil-water separation application

The oil-water separation has made an attention due to over-increased production of oily water from the industrial process and everyday routine of humans. The current work reports on preparation and characterization of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) aerogel coated Natural Rubber Latex foam (NRLF) with superhydrophobic and superoleophilic character, good sorption capacity for oil-water separation application and were investigated. The HDPE aerogel and the coated NRLF material was prepared by a cooling process from a solution of HDPE in xylene solvent (HDPE sole, which resulted into thermally induced phase separation of the Polyethylene molecular network). The HDPE aerogel coated NRLF displayed a porous surface morphology with particle-like structural features. The HDPE aerogel coated NRLF showed superhydrophobicity with static water contact angle >150°. The effect and recyclability of the HDPE aerogel coated NRLF for oil-water separation was investigated using different model oil solvents to explore their repeatable application in oil spill clean-up process. Modified NRLF shows an excellent mechanical property (compressibility). The average modulus and average stiffness of the modified NRLF increased with the increase of the concentration of HDPE sol. The modified superhydrophobic sponge has good durability under acid and base conditions.     

Organogelator–Cellulose Composite for Practical and Eco‐Friendly Marine Oil‐Spill Recovery

Marine oil spills pose serious threats to the ecosystem and economy. There is much interest in developing sorbents that can tackle such spills. We have developed a novel sorbent by impregnating cellulose pulp with a sugar‐derived oleogelator, 1,2:5,6‐di‐O ‐cyclohexylidene‐mannitol. The gelator molecules mask the surface‐exposed hydroxyl groups of cellulose fibrils by engaging them in H‐bonding and expose their hydrophobic parts making the fibers temporarily hydrophobic (water contact angle 110°). This sorbent absorbs oil effectively, selectively and instantly from oil–water mixtures due to its hydrophobicity. Then the gelator molecules get released uniformly in the oil and later self‐assemble to fibers, as evident from SEM analysis, congealing the oil within the matrix. This hierarchical entrapment of the oil by non‐covalent polymeric fibers within a covalent polymer matrix makes the gel very strong (230‐fold increase in the yield stress) and rigid, making it suitable for practical use.     

Formation of Consolidated Bed by Carbon Sorbent and Oil in Removal of Spilled Oil

Formation of a consolidated bed by carbon sorbent and oil in sorption removal of spilled oil was observed and substituted experimentally; the dynamics of this process was analyzed. A process for eliminating oil spills on the water surface using a carbon sorbent was developed.     

Hydrogen and methane sorption in dry and water-loaded multiwall carbon nanotubes

Both H2 and CH4 are clean energy sources. Adsorption was considered a measure to enhance their storage, and many efforts have been dedicated to creating novel materials including carbon nanotubes as efficient carriers for them. In order to understand the uptake mechanism and the viability of practical application, eight adsorption isotherms of H2 on a sample of multiwall carbon nanotubes were collected. The heat of adsorption was determined and an isotherm model was presented. Isotherms of CH4 on the same sample were also collected. While the adsorption on dry samples behaves similarly to that of H2, the sorption behavior of CH4 in the water-loaded sample is quite different and five times higher uptake capacity was observed in the wet sample due to the formation of methane hydrates. However, carbon nanotubes are unlikely to be used as an energy carrier due to its limited surface area and pore volume.     

芋叶超疏水超亲油性能及应用

通过静态接触角(CA)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)分析了芋叶的超疏水超亲油性能. 考察了不同处理温度下芋叶的饱和吸油率、缓释保油率以及离心保油率. 结果表明, 芋叶下表面具有超疏水性能, 其静态水接触角为157.1°(滚动角小于3°), 远大于上表面静态水接触角(109.1°). 不同温度处理的芋叶的饱和吸油率的变化呈现一定规律, 在200 ℃下干燥的芋叶具有最高饱和吸油率(8.1 g/g). 芋叶对难挥发性的机油固定能力较强, 并且在较高转速下对机油仍具有较高的离心保油率.