Catalyst – solid sorbent – or support therefor: product or process – Solid sorbent
Patent
1996-07-18
1998-08-18
Caldarola, Glenn
Catalyst, solid sorbent, or support therefor: product or process
Solid sorbent
210679, 210680, 210690, 210691, B01J 2000, C02F 142
Patent
active
057958424
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an oil-absorbing article which may be used both on land and on water.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Oil pollutions represent a considerable pollution problem, and several different methods and means have been suggested and are used for collecting or possibly destroying oil spill.
A means which has successfully been used for taking up oil, is fine-grained, dried pine bark. This material has been spread out over areas which have been exposed to oil spill, and by using suitable amounts of bark it has then been possible to remove essentially all oil spill. However, in many cases it is not practical to store and use such a fine-grained material, since for instance the collection of the material after use entails considerable work. It has been tried to include bark in different types of materials, but those efforts which have been made so far have not been successful. By using porous paper bags as an outer cover filled with fine-grained, dried pine bark, it was found that the outer cover itself absorbed oil, but then it blocked for further take up of oil through the paper and into the bark. Experiments have also been made with fine-mesh bags, but the bags have either had such large openings that the bark powder has fallen out, or the bags have been so tight that they have given the same result as the paper bags.
Compared with the use of loose bark it is of course much more practical to have the oil absorbing bark in an outer covering which lets oil through to become absorbed by the bark surrounded by the outer covering. Such an article with an outlet covering may easily be stored, used and removed after use. However, as mentioned above, the problem has been that so far a suitable outer covering has not been found.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an oil-absorbing article which is characterized in that it comprises an outer covering which primarily consists of wool felt, and this outer covering surrounds a core which primarily consists of fine-grained dried pine bark.
"Pine" comprises trees of the genus Pinus, in particular ordinary pine (Pinus silvestris), but also other species of pine such as Pinus contorta, Pinus cembra, Pinus nigra and Pinus ponderosa.
It is of decisive importance that the pine bark has been dried well. The drying of fine-grained, such as milled bark must take place carefully to remove all or essentially all moisture. The drying may for instance take place in a cyclone as per se known.
The outer covering of wool felt has the surprising property that in use it will let oil through into the bark which becomes saturated with oil. In contrast to paper, the wool outer coating will let oil through even after it has become saturated with oil. The saturation with oil will also prevent absorption of water, which means that the oil-absorbing article will remain floating on water after absorption of oil when used as an oil boom or in a similar manner on water.
The wool felt must be so dense that the bark can not get out, but on the other hand not so dense that it is difficult for the oil to get in.
In particular when the oil-absorbing article according to the invention is relatively large, it may be desirable to include internal separating walls which suitably may be of the same material as the outer coating. This will give the article a greater stability and prevent the bark from displacement.
Similarly, in many cases it will also be suitable that the article contains a reinforcement, particularly in the outer coating, so that it will have less tendency to break or crack. This applies in particular to large articles which for instance will be handled by means of fork truck or similar apparatus. The reinforcement may be of any suitable material, and preferably natural materials are used such as jute.
The wool used in the outer coating may suitably be waste wool, i.e. waste material, which may be shaped to wool felt, optionally with reinforcement included therein.
After use the oil-saturated article may according to publ
REFERENCES:
patent: 3617565 (1971-11-01), Fahlvik
patent: 3980566 (1976-09-01), Peterson
patent: 4072794 (1978-02-01), Tomita et al.
Bullock In Suk
Caldarola Glenn
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