Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title: PROCESS TO SOLIDIFY OIL ON LAND AND SEA
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention provides a preventive approach to the problem of
oil spills at sea and on land.
Background of the invention
[0002] The most abundant liquid on earth is water; followed by oil.
Both water and oil are extremely valuable to sustaining life on this planet.
But
when oil and water are combined at sea, the value of the loss cannot be
measured simply in billions of dollars, it must be measured in the marine life
that is destroyed, or forced to vacate to unsuitable habitat.
[0003] The inventor would like to quote the late Albert Einstein:
"The measure of a system's ability to retrieve and use the energy exchanged
in the interaction with its environment is called efficiency. The measure of
the
system's lack of ability to retrieve this energy is called entropy.
"Entropy is the measure of the disorder in a system. The entropy of the Earth
is increasing. It is the objective of technology to control it."
[0004] Environmentalists everywhere are fighting entrophy now, more
than at any time in the past century, yet little has been achieved to prevent,
or
to repair the lasting damage of a massive oil spill which engulfs everything
in
its wake.
[0005] Current technology cannot control an oil spill's devastation.
Once areas such as inner-tidal zones, pools and beaches have been coated
in oil the chances of restoring the area using present systems, are poor.
[0006] The details of this invention show how spilled oil can be altered
to a non-adhesive, non-contaminating solid, eliminating danger to birds, sea
life and coastlines, and how once treated, the oil can be safely removed from
land and sea.
[0007] A hot wax method previously patented by the inventor has been
used in the past to stabilize oil on land and water. It should be noted that
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carrying hot wax containers, and the gas containers used to heat the wax, can
be hazardous to personnel and also that high temperature wax can scorch
plant vegetation in areas being treated. Due to the high temperature needed
for a successful hot wax application the cost of the product is high.
Therefore,
this method should be limited to areas such as hidden tidal pools within rocky
shores, and on sand.
[0008] It is advisable not to apply hot wax on certain oils containing
highly toxic substances such as PCB oils. The high heat of the wax causes
vaporization and partial emission into the surrounding environment. This
could be lethal to anyone using this procedure.
Summary of the invention
[0009] This invention involves a process of applying paraffin wax to
spilled oil on land or water to prevent oil's contamination and to prepare it
for
removal and disposal.
[0010] The invention is directed to a method of controlling oil spills,
comprising the steps of applying paraffin wax particles to an oil spill so as
to
form an oil/wax mixture, and removing the oil/wax mixture. The paraffin wax
particles may comprise a granulated paraffin wax or a powdered paraffin wax.
The powdered paraffin wax may comprise a mixture of paraffin and a polymer.
[0011] The powdered paraffin wax may be formed by cooling
granulated paraffin wax, adding the polymer to the cooled granulated paraffin
wax to create a mixture of paraffin and polymer, and pulverizing the mixture
to
form a powder.
[0012] Another aspect of the invention is a method of controlling oil
spills in water, comprising the steps of spreading a floating mesh net over a
portion of an oil spill, applying paraffin wax particles to the oil spill so
as to
form an oil/wax mixture that adheres to the net, and removing the net from the
water. Alternatively, the paraffin wax particles can be applied to an oil
spill to
form an oil/wax mixture, and the mixture can be removed by spreading a
floating mesh net over the mixture and removing the net from the water, or by
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skimming an oil capturing device such as a screen or a net over the oil/wax
mixture.
Detailed descriation of the invention
[0013] The details of this invention show how spilled oil can be altered
to a non-adhesive, non-contaminating solid, eliminating the danger to birds,
sea life and coastlines, and how once treated, the oil can be safely removed
from land and sea.
[0014] Powdered and Granulated Wax:
The methods described for this patent pertain to the application of cold
granulated and powdered wax to oil. Both of these waxes will solidify oils,
fuels and any liquid hydrocarbons spilled on water or ground surfaces. The
oil/wax mixture can be easily removed.
[0015] Powdered wax will achieve these objectives more quickly than
granulated wax as the setting time of powdered wax is less than that of
granulated wax. Granulated wax can be used under circumstances when a
slower solidification rate is sufficient.
(0016] Factors:
When wax comes in contact with most oils or fuels it instantly begins to
dissolve due to the solvent properties of oil. Uniting wax with oil forms a
non-
adhesive, non-contaminating solid. Ambient temperatures affect the rate of
solidification. Where there is no sun or when the weather is cold the oil will
dissolve the wax but the rate of complete solidification is lowered.
[0017] Wax can be obtained from oil refineries in three states:
1 ) as a liquid which is transported in tankers, rail cars or tank trucks;
2) in a solid state which is transported in pallets on open rail cars, plane,
truck, or by ship;
3) in a granulated state which can be obtained in 50 Ib bags and
transported on open rail cars, planes, trucks, or by ships.
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[0018] There is an abundance of wax in the USSR, the Middle East,
Canada, and the USA.
[0019] Granulated wax is the smallest particle in which wax can be
purchased from a refinery. A smaller particle wax cannot be purchased as it
compacts and therefore is not produced by the refinery.
[0020] Producing a Non-Compacting Powdered Wax:
Granulated wax and C02, or dry ice, is blended in a blender. C02 is used in
order to avoid the heating affects of friction from the blender blades which
cause the wax to clot and collect in compacted lumps. While the particles of
wax are in a cold state the wax remains incompressible. It is at this stage
that
a polymer is added. (The ratio of polymer to wax may vary according to the
types of oil being treated. The chemical name of the polymer is
Polynorbornene a Cycloolefin with the chemical formula of C7 H,o.) The three
ingredients are then pulverized to a dust or powder. Upon evaporation of the
C02, the wax and polymer remain in the powdered state and will not
compress. A fine, sand-sized wax particle is thus achieved.
[0021] Methods of Application:
1 ) Air delivery of the wax particles may be achieved with the use of low
flying light aircraft, similar to crop dusters, using equipment like that of
a sand blaster which utilizes air pressure. Wax particles can be
bombarded at high altitudes in bulk quantities. The height of the drop
would determine the spread of particles on the water's surface.
2) Wax particles can be sprayer from boats using air pressure.
3) Application of wax particles can be distributed by hand on land in areas
which are not accessible by boat or plane but can be reached on foot,
such as areas where oil is lodged in tidal pools or trapped in inner tidal
zones and areas of inaccessible beach or pocket coves.
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The wind speed and direction would be factors to consider in all
applications but particularly when wax particle delivery is made from
the air.
[0022] Applying cold granulated or powdered wax onto oil is the most
economical and efficient method of solidifying oil on water and land. When
granulated or powdered wax comes into contact with the highly solvent crude
oil the wax is rapidly dissolved and forms, in combination with the oil, a non-
adhesive, non-contaminating solid which can be lifted and removed. If the
mass cannot be removed immediately the oil/wax solid can remain in place
without danger to animals and birds. Wax treatment prevents the spreading
of oil. Immediate wax application after a spill would dramatically reduce the
threat of contamination.
[0023] Oil Retrieving Procedure:
1 ) Skids pulled by light machinery can be used to remove the oil/wax solid
from beaches.
2) Nets or screens attached to boats would act as skimmers to collect and
remove the floating wax/oil solid on the water.
3) Light, floating, one inch mesh nets can be spread over oil-coated water
prior to, or shortly after, wax application. The wax/oil conglomerate will
adhere or cling to the net while in the semi-solid stage.
These nets may then be winched onto a barge through rollers or
ringers; or winched from the shore into containers through rollers or
ringers; and the net reused again and again. This method is superior
as very large sections of oil can be removed from the water's surface.
[0024] Quantities of wax needed to solidify crude oil is a ratio of
approximately 1 wax to 7 oil. One thousand Ibs. of wax will solidify 7,000 sq.
yds. of oil-coated beach or water surface.
[0025] Uniting wax with oil renders the oil a non-adhesive, non-toxic
semi-solid.
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[0026] All environmentalists must be made aware of wax's application
in the control of oil pollution and that existing equipment such as skimmers
and slick tickers can be used to remove the wax-treated oil.
[0027] It should be understood that various modifications can be made
to the methods described herein, without departing from the subject invention,
the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.
