Method and apparatus for pollutant spill control

Claim 2

In a sorbent for the collection of liquid hydrocarbon pollutants having a partially reticulated, buoyant polymeric plastic substrate, a plurality of non-abrasive, magnetically susceptible particles inbedded in, and substantially evenly distributed throughout said substrate, said particles having a size of from about 100 microns to about 1500 microns, said particles present in an amount sufficient to impart to said sorbent a magnetic force to weight ratio of not less than about 2.0.

Claim 3

In the sorbent as set forth in claim 1, said non-abrasive magnetically susceptible particles comprising iron particles selected from the group consisting of iron platelets and iron shot.

Claim 4

In the sorbent as set forth in claim 2, said plurality iron particles present in an amount sufficient to impart to said sorbent a magnetic force to weight ratio of not less than about 3.0.

Claim 5

A sorbent for the collection of liquid hydrocarbon pollutants borne on an aquatic medium comprising: a. a partially reticulated polymeric plastic substrate; and b. a plurality of non-abrasive, magnetically susceptible particles, said particles having a size of from about 100 to about 1500 microns, imbedded in and substantially evenly distributed throughout said substrate in amounts sufficient to provide said sorbent with a magnetic force to weight ratio of not less than 2.0, said sorbent characterized by a dry density of from about 5 to about 20 lbs/ft 3 , an average cell diameter of from about 0.01 cm to about 0.10 cm, an absorption ratio of #2 diesel oil of not less than about 0.25, an absorption ratio of water of not greater than about 0.20, a percent decrease of thickness experienced after 50,000 compression-recovery cycles to 50% deflection of not more than about 50%, an oil to water absorption ratio of not less than about 1.5, a percent retention of hydrocarbon liquid after drainage of not less than about 50% and a percent retention of hydrocarbon liquid after compression of not greater than about 50%.

Claim 6

A sorbent for the collection of liquid hydrocarbon pollutants borne on an aquatic medium comprising: a. a partially reticulated polymeric plastic substrate; and b. a plurality of non-abrasive, magnetically susceptible particles, said particles having a size of from about 100 to about 1500 microns, imbedded in and substantially evenly distributed throughout said substrate in amounts sufficient to provide said sorbent with a magnetic force to weight ratio of not less than 2.0, said sorbent characterized by a dry density of from about 5 to about 20 lbs/ft 3 , an average cell diameter of from about 0.01 cm to about 0.10 cm, an absorption ratio of #2 diesel oil of not less than about 0.25, an absorption ratio of water of not greater than about 0.20, a percent decrease of thickness experienced after 50,000 compression-recovery cycles to 50% deflection of not more than about 50%, an oil to water absorption ratio of not less than about 1.5, a percent retention of hydrocarbon liquid after drainage of not less than about 50% and a percent retention of hydrocarbon liquid after compression of not greater than about 50%.

Claim 7

The sorbent as set forth in claim 4 wherein said sorbent is characterized by a dry density of from about 10 to about 15 lb/ft 3 , an average cell diameter of from about 0.02 to about 0.05 cm, a magnetic force to weight ratio of not less than about 3.0, an absorption ratio for #2 diesel oil of not less about 0.50, an absorption ratio for water of not more than about 0.10, a percent decrease of thickness experienced after 50,000 compression cycles to 50% deflection of not more than about 30% of an oil to water absorption ratio of not less than about 9.0, a percent retention of hydrocarbon liquid after drainage of not less than about 80%, and a percent retention of hydrocarbon liquid after compression of not greater than about 30%.

Claim 8

The sorbent as set forth in claim 5 wherein said non-abrasive magnetically susceptible particles comprise iron particles selected from the group consisting of iron platelets and iron shot.

Claim 9

The sorbent as set forth in claim 6 wherein said iron particles have a size of from about 700 to about 1000 microns.

Claim 10

A sorbent for the collection of liquid hydrocarbon pollutants having a plurality of iron particles selected from the group consisting of iron platelets and iron shot, said particles having a size of from about 100 microns to about 1500 microns, imbedded in, and substantially evenly distributed throughout, a partially reticulated, buoyant, resilient, oleophillic, hydrophobic, synthetic plastic foam substrate, said synthetic plastic foam selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, sponge rubbers, latex, polyolefins, polyvinyl chlorides, silicone rubbers, polystyrene, urea-formaldehydes, polyvinyl alcohol-formaldehydes, epoxys, acrylonitriles and acrylate copolymers, pyranyls, polyethylenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers and cellulose acetate.

Claim 11

A sorbent for the collection of liquid hydrocarbon pollutants having a plurality of iron particles selected from the group consisting of iron platelets and iron shot, said particles having a size of from about 100 microns to about 1500 microns, imbedded in, and substantially evenly distributed throughout, a partially reticulated, buoyant, resilient, oleophillic, hydrophobic, synthetic plastic foam substrate, said synthetic plastic foam selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, sponge rubbers, latex, polyolefins, polyvinyl chlorides, silicone rubbers, polystyrene, urea-formaldehydes, polyvinyl alcohol-formaldehydes, epoxys, acrylonitriles and acrylate copolymers, pyranyls, polyethylenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers and cellulose acetate.

Claim 12

The sorbent as set forth in claim 8 wherein said synthetic plastic foam is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane foams; polyvinyl chloride plastisols; blown sponge rubbers from polyisoprene, polybutadiene or natural rubber; latex foams blown from polyisoprene, polybutadiene, neoprene, and butadiene-styrene mixtures; acrylonitrile-butadiene elastomers; and silicone foams.

Claim 13

The sorbent as set forth in claim 9 wherein said synthetic plastic foam comprises polyurethane foam.