OIL ARRESTER

Abstract: An oil arrester is constructed from specially treated fowl feathers (2), package together into a slab-like package (1), a plurality of oil arrester units being interconnected by means of a nylon string (6, 10) which is secured to a plastic anchoring support (7, 9) in said package (1), said oil arrester providing the absorption of oily and greasy substances floating over a liquid surface, further providing the expansion of the captured substance.

Description: OIL ARRESTER This invention is related to a device for arresting and absorbing oily or greasy substances which float on liquid sur faces as those of seas and rivers. Thus, in case of oil leakage from discharge hoses in a seashore discharging facility, a leakage or spillage from a tanker, on the water surface, we must be able to prevent env_i ronmental pollution which causes severe damage to the ecology, as well as to recover precious oily and greasy substances , by employing an effective oil arrester. The materials used to form said oil arrester are fowl fea. thers (chicken, duck, etc.) which, after slaughter and subse_ quent plucking, provide the raw material for said oil arrej; ter. The referred raw material (feathers) , undergoes some treat, ment, consisting of immersion in a hot water bath followed by drying, which induces an increase in the capillary activity of the barbs, thus improving its original characteristics. Depen ding on the feathers, the water bath may contain additives , e.g. ethanol, acetone and hydrogene peroxide, in order to i prove the cleaning and degreasing of the feathers. The washing liquor can be regenerated, for instance by distillation. After obtaining said inert material (treated feathers) , it will be arranged in suitable packages which will render possi¬ ble its ready use, by simply disposing the oil arrester on the polluted water surface. The present oil arrester, not only gathers and absorbs the oily or greasy substances but also avoids the expansion of the oil spillage on the damaged water surface, since it is formed of a plurality of oil arrester units tied together. After said oily and greasy substances have been retained in the oil arrester, they are no longer returned to the liquid surface, thus they cannot be spread again over said surface be cause the oil gets firmly retained in the oil arrester, thus permitting a total recovery of the absorbed material. Tests with hen feathers have shown that these are capable of absorbing about 8,5 times their weight of petroleum oil. The oil arrester is formed of the following materials: a) properly treated fowl feathers, b) meshed web of synthetic ma terial, c) 1,6 mm diameter nylon strings, and d) plastic rein forcement to provide mooring support. The feathers are packed together in slab-like packages closed at their ends and inteα: connected by means of a nylon string, said packages being held secured on plastic anchoring supports thus permitting its ready an reliable use. Accordingly, the oil arrester of the present invention is a device easy to be made, of low manufacturing costs,and which is able to provide many advantages and more reliability in the event of an ecological disaster in which its use is required. To provide a better understanding of the foregoing dej= cription, reference is made to the accompanying drawings (Fi gures 1 2 and 3) which are included for the sake of illustra tion of the invention without, by any means intending to limit or restrict its scope. Figure 1 is a plan view of the present oil arrester. Figure 2 shows the tieing mode used in said oil arrester. Figure 3 is a general view of the assembled oil arrester ready for use. The oil arrester of the present invention includes a slab¬ like package (Fig. 1) formed by a synthetic material meshed web suitably cut and trimed to form a generally rectangular cen tral portion (1;) with corner angles (3) and being said package filled with feathers previously treated as mentioned above , being its side walls formed by straight strips (4) which form eight edges (5) at their rims, said lateral said walls being connected by means of a nylon string (6, 10) shown in Fig. 2 , secured to an anchoring plastic support (7, 9) , said slabs (1) being usable separatly (8) or tied together,said assembly being designed to prevent the spreading of oil and to enchance the absorption of the captured substance, as shows in Fig. 3.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An oil arrester unit designed to absorb oily and greasy substances floating over a liquid medium, formed with specially treated fowl feathers (2) , which are packed into a slab-like package (1) made of a synthetic material meshed web having a rectangular shape, its side walls being four straight strips (4) which form eight edges (5) at their rims. 2. Oil arrester unit according to claim 1 in which anchoring plastic supports (7,9) are provided, enabling an inter_ connection of two or more oil arrester units by means of nylon string (6, 10) . 3. Method of absorbing oily and greasy substances floating over a liquid medium, characterized by placing one or more oil arrester unit(s) on or around the oily and greasy substances , whereby said one or more unit consist(s) of a slab-like packa ge (1) made of a synthetic material meshed web filled with specially treated fowl feathers. 4. Method according to claim 3, in which several units are in terconnected by means of anchoring plastic supports (7, 9) and nylon string (6, 10).

Inventors: CRUZ GROSSI ANIVALDO DA, CRUZ GROSSI, ANIVALDO, DA
Applicants: CRUZ GROSSI ANIVALDO DA, CRUZ GROSSI, ANIVALDO, DA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: E02B15
IPC codes: B01D17, C02F1, E02B15