WO2022061408A1 - Procédé et appareil de décontamination in situ - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil de décontamination in situ Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022061408A1
WO2022061408A1 PCT/AU2021/051111 AU2021051111W WO2022061408A1 WO 2022061408 A1 WO2022061408 A1 WO 2022061408A1 AU 2021051111 W AU2021051111 W AU 2021051111W WO 2022061408 A1 WO2022061408 A1 WO 2022061408A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
granulate
oil
hydrocarbon
water
sand
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2021/051111
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Rami Ayoub
Original Assignee
Sustainable Rubber Technologies (SRT) Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2020903454A external-priority patent/AU2020903454A0/en
Application filed by Sustainable Rubber Technologies (SRT) Pty Ltd filed Critical Sustainable Rubber Technologies (SRT) Pty Ltd
Publication of WO2022061408A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022061408A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09C—RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09C1/00—Reclamation of contaminated soil
    • B09C1/08—Reclamation of contaminated soil chemically
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/22—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof comprising organic material
    • B01J20/26—Synthetic macromolecular compounds
    • B01J20/261—Synthetic macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/28—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof characterised by their form or physical properties
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/28—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof characterised by their form or physical properties
    • B01J20/28014—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof characterised by their form or physical properties characterised by their form
    • B01J20/28016—Particle form
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/30—Processes for preparing, regenerating, or reactivating
    • B01J20/34—Regenerating or reactivating
    • B01J20/3425—Regenerating or reactivating of sorbents or filter aids comprising organic materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/30—Processes for preparing, regenerating, or reactivating
    • B01J20/34—Regenerating or reactivating
    • B01J20/3491—Regenerating or reactivating by pressure treatment
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09C—RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09C1/00—Reclamation of contaminated soil
    • B09C1/002—Reclamation of contaminated soil involving in-situ ground water treatment
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/68—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water
    • C02F1/681—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water by addition of solid materials for removing an oily layer on water
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K3/00—Materials not provided for elsewhere
    • C09K3/32—Materials not provided for elsewhere for absorbing liquids to remove pollution, e.g. oil, gasoline, fat
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
    • E02B15/045—Separating means for recovering oil floating on a surface of open water
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
    • E02B15/046—Collection of oil using vessels, i.e. boats, barges
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
    • E02B15/10—Devices for removing the material from the surface
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
    • E02B15/10—Devices for removing the material from the surface
    • E02B15/101—Means floating loosely on the water absorbing the oil
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
    • E02B15/10—Devices for removing the material from the surface
    • E02B15/104—Conveyors; Paddle wheels; Endless belts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/28—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof characterised by their form or physical properties
    • B01J20/28054—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof characterised by their form or physical properties characterised by their surface properties or porosity
    • B01J20/28078—Pore diameter
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/30—Processes for preparing, regenerating, or reactivating
    • B01J20/32—Impregnating or coating ; Solid sorbent compositions obtained from processes involving impregnating or coating
    • B01J20/3202—Impregnating or coating ; Solid sorbent compositions obtained from processes involving impregnating or coating characterised by the carrier, support or substrate used for impregnation or coating
    • B01J20/3206—Organic carriers, supports or substrates
    • B01J20/3208—Polymeric carriers, supports or substrates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J20/00—Solid sorbent compositions or filter aid compositions; Sorbents for chromatography; Processes for preparing, regenerating or reactivating thereof
    • B01J20/30—Processes for preparing, regenerating, or reactivating
    • B01J20/32—Impregnating or coating ; Solid sorbent compositions obtained from processes involving impregnating or coating
    • B01J20/3231—Impregnating or coating ; Solid sorbent compositions obtained from processes involving impregnating or coating characterised by the coating or impregnating layer
    • B01J20/3242—Layers with a functional group, e.g. an affinity material, a ligand, a reactant or a complexing group
    • B01J20/3268—Macromolecular compounds
    • B01J20/327—Polymers obtained by reactions involving only carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2220/00—Aspects relating to sorbent materials
    • B01J2220/40—Aspects relating to the composition of sorbent or filter aid materials
    • B01J2220/48—Sorbents characterised by the starting material used for their preparation
    • B01J2220/4875—Sorbents characterised by the starting material used for their preparation the starting material being a waste, residue or of undefined composition
    • B01J2220/4893—Residues derived from used synthetic products, e.g. rubber from used tyres
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09C—RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09C2101/00—In situ
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
    • C02F1/38—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by centrifugal separation
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2101/00—Nature of the contaminant
    • C02F2101/30—Organic compounds
    • C02F2101/32—Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2103/00—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
    • C02F2103/007—Contaminated open waterways, rivers, lakes or ponds
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2103/00—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
    • C02F2103/34—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated from industrial activities not provided for in groups C02F2103/12 - C02F2103/32
    • C02F2103/36—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated from industrial activities not provided for in groups C02F2103/12 - C02F2103/32 from the manufacture of organic compounds
    • C02F2103/365—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated from industrial activities not provided for in groups C02F2103/12 - C02F2103/32 from the manufacture of organic compounds from petrochemical industry (e.g. refineries)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F2303/00—Specific treatment goals
    • C02F2303/16—Regeneration of sorbents, filters
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    • E02B15/00—Cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water; Apparatus therefor
    • E02B15/04—Devices for cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like floating materials by separating or removing these materials
    • E02B15/041—Devices for distributing materials, e.g. absorbed or magnetic particles over a surface of open water to remove the oil, with or without means for picking up the treated oil
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A20/00—Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
    • Y02A20/20—Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment
    • Y02A20/204—Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a method the removal of oil or hydrocarbon pollution from water and/or soil or sand.
  • the invention further relates to an apparatus for performing the method in situ.
  • Hydrocarbon spills or leaks represent an ever-present threat to the environment, economy, and health of our society. They may be caused, for example, by an oil tanker running aground or sinking, leaking or broken drill heads, leaking pipes or hoses or a damaged or sunk oil drilling rig or storage facility.
  • An oil spill may spread across the surface of a body of water, contaminate miles of seashore, and destroy much aquatic life. Sizable spills may take months or even years to clean up. A spill may also impact the occupations of those that rely on the sea to provide their livelihood, such as fishermen, tourist operators and the like.
  • One procedure for removing hydrocarbons from a beach or soil involves the use of solvents and dispersants. This improves the surface aesthetically and mobilises the oil. Smaller oil droplets, scattered by currents, may cause less harm, and may degrade more easily. However, these chemicals may present additional contamination risks. For example, the dispersed oil droplets may infiltrate deeper water. Also, some dispersants may be toxic to marine life such as fish or corals. Also, such procedures may require the physical removal of soil or beach sand to a location remote from where the pollution has occurred so that it can be stored and then treated. Moreover, the recovery and reuse of these solvents and dispersants is typically not possible, which means they remain as pollutants themselves.
  • a method for the in situ removal of oil or hydrocarbon from oil- or hydrocarbon-contaminated water, rock, sand or soil comprising:
  • steps (a) and/or (b) is/are performed at the site of the contaminated water, rock, sand or soil.
  • the granulate comprises latex particles. In some embodiments, the granulate comprises rubber particles. In some embodiments, the granulate comprises polyolefin particles. In some embodiments, the particles have an average diameter from about 0.5 mm to about 100 mm. In some embodiments, the particles have an average diameter from about 0.1 mm to about 50 mm. In some embodiments, the granulate is admixed with water. In some embodiments, the admixing step occurs in an open-water environment.
  • the methods further comprise testing the water after the separation step.
  • the water may be tested for biochemical oxygen demand.
  • the separation step comprises the use of a sieve, a net, a conveyor, a bucket, a separation conveyor, or a combination of one or more of these devices.
  • the granulate is admixed with rock, sand, or soil.
  • the methods further comprise repeating steps (a) and/or (b) one or more times.
  • the method further comprises:
  • the press is a screw-type seed oil extraction press.
  • the methods further comprise reusing the recovered granulate in step (a).
  • a method for the in situ removal of oil or hydrocarbon from oil- or hydrocarbon-contaminated water, rock, sand or soil comprising:
  • steps (a) and/or (b) and/or (c) and/or (d) is/are performed at the site of the contaminated water, rock, sand or soil.
  • the granulate comprises latex particles, rubber particles and/or polyolefin particles. In an embodiment, the particles have an average diameter from about 0.5 mm to about 100 mm. In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of testing the water for biochemical oxygen demand after the separation step. In an embodiment, the method further comprises reusing at least some of the granulate recovered from step (d) in a subsequent step (a).
  • an apparatus for the in situ removal of oil or hydrocarbon from oil- or hydrocarbon-contaminated water, rock, sand or soil comprising:
  • steps (a) and/or (b) is/are performed at the site of the contaminated water, rock, sand or soil.
  • the granulate comprises latex particles. In an embodiment, the granulate comprises rubber particles. In an embodiment, the granulate comprises polyolefin particles.
  • the particles have an average diameter from about 0.5 mm to about 100 mm. In an embodiment, the particles have an average diameter from about 0.1 mm to about 50 mm.
  • the granulate is admixed with water.
  • the admixing step occurs in an open-water environment.
  • the apparatus further comprises means for testing the water after the separation step.
  • the water is tested for biochemical oxygen demand.
  • the separation step comprises the use of a sieve, a net, a conveyor, a bucket, a separation conveyor or a combination of one or more of these devices.
  • the granulate is admixed with rock, sand, or soil.
  • the apparatus comprises means for repeating steps (a) and/or (b) one or more times.
  • the apparatus comprises means for removing some or all of the oil or hydrocarbon from the coated granulate using a centrifuge or a press such that granulate is recovered.
  • the press is a screw-type seed oil extraction press.
  • the apparatus further comprises means for reusing the recovered granulate in step (a).
  • an apparatus for the in situ removal of oil or hydrocarbon from oil- or hydrocarbon-contaminated water, rock, sand or soil comprising:
  • (c) means for transporting the coated granulate to a centrifuge or press via an agitator or an auger;
  • steps (a) and/or (b) and/or (c) and/or (d) is/are performed at the site of the contaminated water, rock, sand or soil.
  • the granulate comprises latex particles, rubber particles and/or polyolefin particles.
  • the particles have an average diameter from about 0.5 mm to about 100 mm.
  • the apparatus further comprises means for testing the water for biochemical oxygen demand after the separation step.
  • the apparatus further comprises means for reusing at least some of the granulate recovered from step (d) in a subsequent step (a).
  • the apparatus of the present invention are adapted to perform the remediation method in situ due to it being operatively associated with a vessel such as a boat, which is then manoeuvred into the precise location of the oil spill (or similar) from where a scooping or pumping mechanism engages with the spill in order to facilitate on-site remediation of the spill.
  • adsorb is taken to include both “adsorb” and “absorb” as well as both processes combined.
  • contaminate or contaminated includes where one substance coats, is mixed with, or is dissolved in, in another substance. Contamination in any of these forms may be partial or complete.
  • oil is intended to define any nonpolar chemical substance that is a viscous liquid at ambient temperatures and is both hydrophobic and lipophilic. Oils have a high carbon and hydrogen content and are usually flammable and surface active. The general definition of oil includes classes of chemical compounds that may be otherwise unrelated in structure, properties, and uses. Oils may be animal, vegetable, or petrochemical in origin, and may be volatile or non-volatile. They are used for food, fuel, medical purposes, lubrication, and the manufacture of many types of paints, plastics, and other materials.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a simplified process flow diagram of a system according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows a representative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, in this case mounted within the front deck of a boat and thereby deliverable to the site of an oil spill, from which the inventive method can be performed in situ.
  • the apparatus for performing the method of the invention may be operatively associated with any applicable part of the boat, in this case, the front deck.
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of a representative embodiment of the present invention.
  • the apparatus is integrally associated with a speedboat of otherwise standard configuration.
  • the apparatus is mounted to the rear of the boat.
  • FIG. 4 is a top view of a representative embodiment of the present invention, in extended configuration as described herein.
  • the boat is a catamaran or dual-hull that, when brought into remediation proximity with an oil spill is configured to extend laterally (or “spider”) by actuating the expandable aluminium floor as shown.
  • the spidering configuration exposes a greater surface area of the remediation apparatus (e.g., scooping means) to the spill.
  • the width of the boat expands from about 3 m when in its normal configuration to about 5 m when expanded.
  • FIG. 5 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention with the remediation apparatus mounted towards the rear of the boat.
  • contaminated sea water is moved up the inclined screw conveyor, through the two-way auger and into the centrifuge where separation takes place as described.
  • the venturi blower then serves to reintroduce the remediated sea water back into the ocean following separation, and move the waste oil to a hull cavity for storage or to a balloon bladder as described.
  • compositions and methods for the in situ clean-up and/or remediation of oil or hydrocarbon spills and pollution using granulate are generally as depicted in FIG. 1, with the apparatus deployed substantially as shown in FIGs. 2 to 5.
  • the remediation apparatus (1) is located toward the front of the boat. In alternative embodiments, the remediation apparatus can be located anywhere within the vessel.
  • FIG. 3 is a top view of a boat (2) that aside from the remediation apparatus (not shown) is of largely standard configuration.
  • the boat has standard features including anchor bed (3), anchor drop (4), toilet (5), fuel tank (6), kitchen (7), water tank (8), void (9), outboard motor/s (10), a ladder fly bridge (11), seats (12) and table (13).
  • FIG. 4 a top view of a boat (2), in this case a catamaran, is shown in extended or “spidered” configuration. Comparable features are numbered as per FIG. 3.
  • this embodiment comprises boom winches (14), hydraulic telescopic expander retraction means (15), an expandable/extendible aluminium floor (16) to enable “spidering” as described above, one or more venturi blower/s (17), one or more centrifuge/s (18), a two-way auger (19) and an inclined screw conveyor (20).
  • FIG. 5 a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is depicted. Comparable features are numbered as per FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 5 shows the relationship of the boat and remediation apparatus (1) with the water line (21).
  • the inclined screw conveyor (20) is operatively associated with the water such that contaminated water is able to be moved up the conveyor (20), through the two-way auger (19) and into the centrifuge (18) at which point the remediation step takes place as described.
  • the present inventor has modified the inventive apparatus such that it resides in and is operable from a speed boat.
  • the speed boat optionally powered by two 250 horsepower outboard motors, is ideally suited to arrive quickly at the site of a spill.
  • the speed boat is equipped with an expandable aluminium floor. This allows the speed boat to “spider” or expand in width from about 3 m to about 5 m, as shown.
  • a venturi blower is then associated in, under and/or on top of the spill. In combination with the natural motion of the ocean, the oil spill is agitated and turns into a mass.
  • the boat is driven to the precise location of the oil to be remediated and the oil extracted accordingly.
  • the oil is extracted from the sea, or picked up using a sieve conveyor or any conveyor which in turn would drop the contaminated oil into a two-direction auger that will be sent to the centrifuge, where separation of oil and absorbent material occurs.
  • Remediated oil is then pumped into either an allocated area in the hull or into an oil containment bladder which could be cast back into the water to pick up later if the spill is larger than the hull’s capacity to hold the remediated oil.
  • the sieve conveyor is packed into its allocated position and the expandable aluminium floor is retracted back into its original size. With the oil spill at least partially remediated, the boat is then returned to land with oil in the hull or towed in the containment bladder.
  • An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, typically due to human activity. Often the term refers to marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters.
  • the oil may be a variety of materials, including crude oil, refined petroleum products, such as gasoline or diesel fuel, oily refuse, or oil mixed in waste, or hydrocarbons generally.
  • One example of a marine oil spill is that of the Exxon Valdez, in Alaska, 1989. Oil may also enter the marine environment from natural oil seeps such as Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010.
  • the environmental effects include damage to wildlife, water purity and coastal areas.
  • oil will coat the feathers of birds, thereby reducing their insulating ability and make the birds more vulnerable to temperature fluctuations and much less buoyant in the water. Oil also impairs bird flight abilities. As they attempt to preen, birds typically ingest oil that covers their feathers, causing kidney damage, altered liver function, and digestive tract irritation. This and the limited foraging ability quickly cause dehydration and metabolic imbalances. Many birds affected by an oil spill will die unless there is human intervention.
  • Plant and algae species may also be affected by an oil spill. For example, because oil floats on top of water, less sunlight penetrates into the water, limiting the photosynthesis of marine plants and phytoplankton.
  • Recovering oil depends upon many factors, including the type of oil spilled, the temperature of the water (in warmer waters, some oil may evaporate), and the types of shorelines and beaches involved.
  • hydrocarbons found naturally occur in crude oil, where decomposed organic matter provides an abundance of carbon and hydrogen which, when bonded, can catenate to form seemingly limitless chains. Extracted hydrocarbons in a liquid form are referred to as petroleum or mineral oil.
  • a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon.
  • Aromatic hydrocarbons (arenes), alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes, and alkyne -based compounds are different types of hydrocarbons.
  • the hydrocarbons in crude oil are mostly alkanes, cycloalkanes, and various aromatic hydrocarbons while the other organic compounds contain nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur, and trace amounts of metals such as iron, nickel, copper, and vanadium.
  • the exact molecular composition varies widely from formation to formation.
  • Hydrocarbons are one of the Earth’s most important energy resources. The predominant use of hydrocarbons is as a combustible fuel source. In their solid form, hydrocarbons take the form of asphalt. The Ce through Cio alkanes, alkenes and isomeric cycloalkanes are the top components of gasoline, naphtha, jet fuel and specialised industrial solvent mixtures. With the progressive addition of carbon units, the simple non-ring structured hydrocarbons have higher viscosities, lubricating indices, boiling points, solidification temperatures, and deeper colour.
  • the proportion of light hydrocarbons in the petroleum mixture is typically highly variable between different oil fields and ranges from as much as 97 % by weight in the lighter oils to as little as 50% in the heavier oils and bitumen.
  • oil used herein encompasses crude oil, petroleum as well as refined or fractionated petroleum products and organic materials, including, fats, vegetable oils, fish oils and animal oils.
  • compositions for the adsorption or absorption of petroleum, oil or hydrocarbons comprise adsorbents, which comprise granular material.
  • the granular material comprises granulates of latex, polyolefins, rubber or mixtures thereof.
  • the granular material used herein may be recycled waste latex, polyolefins, rubber or mixtures thereof.
  • Granulates may be made or obtained from a variety of sources.
  • latex granulates may be derived from latex foam mattresses or pads
  • polyolefin granulates may be derived from polyolefin pads or mats
  • rubber granulates may be derived from rubber foam pads or mats.
  • granulates are obtained by cutting mattresses, mats, pads, or pillows into strips.
  • the strips are sized to accommodate the requirements of shredder. The strips may then be shredded into granules using a shredder or other cutting or grinding machinery.
  • the granulates have an average size from about 0.01 mm to about 100 mm, from about 0.02 mm to about 25 mm, or from about 0.05 to about 10 mm.
  • the granulates have a size diameter within any of the following ranges: 0.5 mm to 100 mm, 0.1 mm to 50 mm, 0.2 mm to 40 mm, 0.3 mm to 30 mm, 0.5 mm to 20 mm, 0.7 mm to 10 mm, 0.8 mm to 5 mm, or 1 mm to 2 mm.
  • the granulates have an average size of 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm, 70 mm, 80 mm, 90 mm, or 100 mm.
  • the some or all of the granulate may be open or closed cell foam material. In some embodiments, the granulate has a density lower than water. In some embodiments, some, or all of the granulate has edges.
  • the granulate is stored vacuum bags. In some embodiments, it may be transported by road, rail, air, and sea.
  • the invention may be used to remove oil from contaminated sand, soil or other solids, or from contaminated water, for examples lakes, rivers, bays inlets, seas or oceans, or it may be used to remove oil from a stream of gas, example by passing the gas through the particulate foam of the invention
  • the amount of granulate may be varied depending on the size of the oil or hydrocarbon spill. In some embodiments, the weight ratio of granulate to oil/hydrocarbon to be applied will be approximately 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:7, 1:10 or 1:15.
  • the granulate will be applied loosely, in other embodiments, a more densely packed granulate may be more suitable.
  • the granulate may be applied, for example, using air, air pumps or venturi pumps. As shown in the example below, 100 grams of latex foam granulate material (mixture of 0.5 mm and 4 mm average diameter) will adsorb 400 grams of fuel oil. An additional test on an actual oil spill showed that 100 grams of granulate material (mixture of 0.5 mm and 3 mm average diameter) adsorbed 1 kg of fuel oil.
  • a site comprising a mixture of sand or soil and optionally water
  • removal of oil or hydrocarbon may be accomplished in situ using the method of Example 2, below.
  • This method may be further modified and optimised using the principles and techniques of environmental engineering.
  • the contaminated sand or soil and optionally water may be placed in a mixer.
  • the contaminated sand or soil may be further mixed with diesel in order to liquefy any especially viscous hydrocarbon or oil.
  • An auger or an agitator may be used to transport the mixture to a centrifuge.
  • the centrifuge may be used to separate the liquid hydrocarbons for the solid materials. Once separated, the liquid hydrocarbons are then typically pumped into a storage unit or tank. The remaining solids may be further treated in a separator comprising a sieve unit. There is the sand and/or soil particles may be rinsed and/or agitated with water to release the remainder of the hydrocarbon or oil. Once separated the lighter oil or hydrocarbon will float up, while the said or soil particles will typically settle to the bottom. The process may be repeated until the sand or soil is sufficiently clean to be reintroduced to the environment.
  • the granulate material disclosed herein may be used before, during or after any of these steps.
  • the invention provides an adsorbent capable of reducing hydrocarbon pollution to an acceptable level.
  • the method removes greater than 90%, 95% or 98% of the hydrocarbon from the contaminated site, for example, from water or shoreline.
  • admixing the adsorbent with oil or hydrocarbon polluted water will cause the oil to adsorb or absorb onto some or all of the granulate.
  • oil/hydrocarbon adsorbed granulate may become a gelatinous mass that floats at the surface of the water, thereby simplifying recovery and removal of the oil/hydrocarbon from the water.
  • the oil or hydrocarbon is removed from the adsorbent using a centrifuge or a press. In some embodiments such a removal may occur in a series of stages. In some embodiments, this will cause most of or all of the oil or hydrocarbon to be separated from the adsorbent.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a simplified process flow diagram illustrating general, exemplary embodiments of the apparatuses and method of the present disclosure. This diagram is offered for illustrative purposes only, and thus it merely depicts specific embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way.
  • granulate 1 is be admixed with oil and/or hydrocarbon contaminated water in open water environment.
  • aspects of the present invention include a method and apparatus for performing the process flow diagram as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the apparatus in operatively mounted on a floating vessel such as a boat, where it can be readily delivered to the site of a spill, thereby enabling the in situ performance of the inventive method.
  • the granulates will be transported to the oil or hydrocarbon spill site using bags.
  • the granulate may be dispersed using a blower or venturi. Dispersed granulates may be agitated together with the contaminated water mechanically, for example using agitator.
  • the agitator is mechanical. In other embodiments, agitation is accomplished manually or naturally, for example, through currents or wave action. During the mixing and or agitation process the granulate will become coated with oil and/or hydrocarbons.
  • the coated granulate may be reclaimed using, for example, sieves, nets, conveyors, or buckets, such as crane buckets. Further separation of the coated granulate from the water may achieved using separation conveyor.
  • the oil and/or hydrocarbons are then removed from the coated granulate using separator attached to a tank, optionally configured with an overflow protector.
  • the separator is a centrifuge, either continuous or discontinuous.
  • the separator is a press, either continuous or discontinuous. The cleaned water is transported into storage tank.
  • the water is tested, for example, for biochemical oxygen demand. If the water is sufficiently clean, it may be reintroduced into the environment. In some embodiments, it may be necessary to further clean the water through additional granulate cleaning cycles or using other purification techniques before it can be reintroduced into the environment. Decorated granulate may transferred for reuse using a variety of devices, including blower conveyors, augers or venturi pumps.
  • the granulate may be reused 30 times. In some embodiments, the granulate may be reused 50 times. Subsequently, any used or unused granulate by be recycled back into manufacturing, for example as primary filler or converted in booms and pillows.
  • compositions provided herein may be combined with other clean-up methods, including bioremediation, use of accelerators, controlled burning, use of dispersants or detergents, skimming, use of booms, use of vacuums.
  • Bioremediation involves the use of microorganisms or biological agents to break down or remove oil.
  • Accelerators are hydrophobic chemicals, containing no bacteria, which chemically and physically bond to both soluble and insoluble hydrocarbons.
  • the accelerator acts as a herding agent in water and on the surface, floating molecules to the surface of the water to form gel-like agglomerates.
  • Controlled burning can effectively reduce the amount of oil in water. Dispersants and detergents will typically cluster around oil globules, allowing them to be carried away in the water.
  • Dredging may be used for oils dispersed with detergents and other oils denser than water.
  • Skimming may be used in combination the methods and compositions disclosed herein. Typically, this requires relatively calm waters.
  • booms which are large floating barriers that round up oil and may lift the oil off the water.
  • Vacuums may be used to remove oil from beaches and water surface. Similarly, shovels and other road equipment’s may be used to clean up oil on beaches
  • Example 1 In situ remediation of contaminated sea water
  • the handheld strainer was used to scoop up the latex foam particles with the crude oil adhered to them. The water drains through the strainer back into the bucket leaving only the latex form with crude oil attached remaining in the strainer.

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Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé et un appareil pour le nettoyage et/ou l'assainissement in situ de déversements de pétrole ou d'hydrocarbures en utilisant un matériau granulaire comprenant des particules de latex, de caoutchouc ou de polyoléfine. L'invention concerne des procédés d'élimination de l'huile ou des hydrocarbures d'une eau, d'une roche, d'un sable ou d'un sol contaminés par de l'huile ou des hydrocarbures, comprenant le mélange de granulés avec de l'eau, de la roche, du sable ou du sol contaminés par de l'huile ou des hydrocarbures, de telle sorte qu'une partie ou la totalité de l'huile ou des hydrocarbures soit adsorbée sur les granulés pour former un mélange comprenant des granulés enrobés, puis la séparation du mélange pour éliminer une partie ou la totalité des granulés enrobés afin de produire de l'eau, de la roche, du sable ou du sol moins contaminés par l'huile ou les hydrocarbures. Le procédé est réalisé in situ, par le biais d'un appareil monté sur un navire tel qu'un bateau.
PCT/AU2021/051111 2020-09-25 2021-09-23 Procédé et appareil de décontamination in situ WO2022061408A1 (fr)

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AU2020903454 2020-09-25
AU2020903454A AU2020903454A0 (en) 2020-09-25 Method of remediating a contaminated medium
AU2021902642 2021-08-23
AU2021902642A AU2021902642A0 (en) 2021-08-23 An in situ decontamination method and apparatus

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3617566A (en) * 1967-11-06 1971-11-02 Aiko Nagao Method and material for separating oil from oil-containing water
US20050252861A1 (en) * 2004-05-14 2005-11-17 Chitsan Lin Apparatus and method for oil spill recovery
US20070299149A1 (en) * 2006-06-22 2007-12-27 Vadim Goldshtein Method of making and using sorbent and filtering material from secondary waste rubber
US20180258252A1 (en) * 2015-09-09 2018-09-13 Yissum Research Development Co Of The Hebrew University Of Jerusalem Ltd. Devulcanized rubber, method for its preparation and its use as an absorbent

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH10292358A (ja) * 1997-04-16 1998-11-04 Ishikawa Giken Rubber Kk 油分の回収方法

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3617566A (en) * 1967-11-06 1971-11-02 Aiko Nagao Method and material for separating oil from oil-containing water
US20050252861A1 (en) * 2004-05-14 2005-11-17 Chitsan Lin Apparatus and method for oil spill recovery
US20070299149A1 (en) * 2006-06-22 2007-12-27 Vadim Goldshtein Method of making and using sorbent and filtering material from secondary waste rubber
US20180258252A1 (en) * 2015-09-09 2018-09-13 Yissum Research Development Co Of The Hebrew University Of Jerusalem Ltd. Devulcanized rubber, method for its preparation and its use as an absorbent

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