US3844941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Use of sulfur for combatting oil spills
Assignee: BP America Production Co
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Filing: 1971-02-01
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Granted: 1974-10-29
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Expires: 1991-02-01
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to water pollution control and concerns a system for combatting the problems which occur when oil is spilled upon a body of water. It concerns a method in which sulfur is spread over the spilled oil to hold the oil mass together to permit it to be easily removed from the body of water. In a preferred embodiment, molten sulfur is sprayed as very fine strands over and around the periphery of an oil spill to enmesh the oil in a sulfur web and keep it confined. In another embodiment, sulfur powder is spread over the oil and tends to hold it together. In those cases where sinking of the oil is the most practical solution to the oil spill problem, greater amounts of powdered yellow sulfur, e.g., at least about three parts by weight of sulfur to one part crude oil, is applied. The oil captured by the sulfur is easily recovered with the sulfur and separation of the oil and sulfur is easily obtained by heating and gravity separation.
Inventors
- 👤 L Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:22
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/68; C02F1/681
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
21 words
A METHOD OF COMBATTING THE PROBLEM OF OIL ON A BODY OF WHERE WHICH COMPRISES DEPOSITING ELEMENTAL SULFUR ON SAID OIL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
21 words
A METHOD OF COMBATTING THE PROBLEM OF OIL ON A BODY OF WHERE WHICH COMPRISES DEPOSITING ELEMENTAL SULFUR ON SAID OIL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 1 in which said sulfur is powdered and has a granular size in the range of from about 0.001 inches to about 0.01 inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 1 including the step of recovering said sulfur and oil from the body of said water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 3 in which said sulfur is deposited from an airborne craft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 3 in which said sulfur is deposited from a vessel supported by said body of water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 3 in which the weight of sulfur deposited per unit area is less than about three times the weight of the oil in said unit area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as defined in claim 1 in which the amount by weight of sulfur deposited over a unit area is at least about three times the weight of the oil in such unit area so that the oil and sulfur will sink.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 7 including the step of recovering the sulfur and oil mass from the bottom of said body of water.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
43 words
A method of combatting the problem of oil on a body of water comprising the step of spraying fine strands of molten elemental sulfur adjacent to the oil on the surface to said body of water to enmesh the oil in a web.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
43 words
A method of combatting the problem of oil on a body of water comprising the step of spraying fine strands of molten elemental sulfur adjacent to the oil on the surface to said body of water to enmesh the oil in a web.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 9 in which said sulfur is sprayed on and about the periphery of the oil to make a peripheral plastic sulfur fence.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as defined in claim 10 in which the body of water has waves and in which the peripheral fence has a width of at least the wave length of the longest expected wave.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 9 wherein oil enmeshed by the web of sulfur strands is skimmed from the surface of the water by towing the web in one direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as defined in claim 10 in which the thickness of the peripheral plastic sulfur fence is at least as thick as the layer of oil and also including the step of spraying an inner mat of plastic elemental sulfur strands in the oil surrounded by the peripheral fence, the inner mat having a thickness no greater than about the thickness of the layer of surrounded oil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 11 in which finely divided powdered yellow sulfur is spread on the oil inside the peripheral sulfur fence.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as defined in claim 14 including the step of recovering the sulfur and oil adherred thereto from the surface of said body of water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 15 including the step of separating the recovered oil and sulfur by heating the oil and sulfur mass and gravity separating the sulfur from the oil.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as described in claim 10 including the step of moving the mass of sulfur and oil in a desired direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as described in claim 10 including the step of pushing opposite sides of the fence together to concentrate tHe accumulation of oil.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of protecting a beach from oil which has been spilled on a body of water adjacent the beach which comprises: spreading a mat of elemental sulfur on the surface of the body of water adjacent the beach; and anchoring the sulfur mat against horizontal movement.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of protecting a beach from oil which has been spilled on a body of water adjacent the beach which comprises: spreading a mat of elemental sulfur on the surface of the body of water adjacent the beach; and anchoring the sulfur mat against horizontal movement.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as defined in claim 19 in which said anchoring includes the step of placing posts in the bottom of the body of water along the area where the sulfur mat is positioned, the top of said posts extending above the top of the highest expected wave.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of recovering oil from the surface of a body of water which includes the step of placing bodies of foamed elemental sulfur on the oil to absorb oil and recovering the oil enmeshed by the sulfur foam.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of recovering oil from the surface of a body of water which includes the step of placing bodies of foamed elemental sulfur on the oil to absorb oil and recovering the oil enmeshed by the sulfur foam.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
31 words
A method of protecting a beach from petroleum oil floating on a body of water adjacent the beach by depositing elemental sulfur directly on the beach which will later be flooded.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
31 words
A method of protecting a beach from petroleum oil floating on a body of water adjacent the beach by depositing elemental sulfur directly on the beach which will later be flooded.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as defined in claim 22 in which the sulfur is a mat of foam.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 22 in which said sulfur is deposited in the form of intertwined sulfur fiber.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 22 in which said sulfur is crushed sulfur in which the particle size is in the range of 0.04 to 0.2 inches.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 25 in which a layer of woven fabric is first laid down on the beach and the crushed sulfur is subsequently spread on the woven fabric to form a sulfur layer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined in claim 26 in which the edges of the fabric are turned up to a level at least to the top of the sulfur layer and held in position.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 27 in which the fabric layer and sulfur are recovered in toto after the sulfur has enmeshed the oil, thus leaving the beach clean.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process for treating an oil slick on fresh or salt water comprising contacting at least a portion of said oil slick with a solid material consisting of elemental sulfur, causing said portion of said oil slick to coagulate.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process for treating an oil slick on fresh or salt water comprising contacting at least a portion of said oil slick with a solid material consisting of elemental sulfur, causing said portion of said oil slick to coagulate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-28 | 1978-04-29 | 1978-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-28 | 1982-04-29 | 1982-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-28 | 1986-04-29 | 1986-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |