Patent Publication Number: US-2013240454-A1

Title: Low-energy system for collecting matter

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application (1) 61/355,990 filed on Jun. 17, 2010 and naming inventors Youngs and Cook, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application (2) 61/355,969 filed on Jun. 17, 2010 and naming inventors Youngs and Cook; the contents of both Applications are incorporated by reference as if fully reproduced below. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Collecting matter in a medium, e.g. oil in water, is an expensive and inefficient process which can contaminate the matter and/or the medium. Information relevant to attempts to address these problems can be found in the following: (1) U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,770; (2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,774; (3) US 2010/0105125; (4) US 2010/0210003; (5) 2011/0016773; (6) US 2009/0203115; (7) US 2010/0144017; (8) US 2010/0267122; (9) US 2011/0065165; (10) EP 942,646; (11) WO 2011038413; (12) WO 9851627; (13) US 20100105125; (14) WO 2010151887; (15) WO 9851627; (16) U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,528; (17) U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,039; (18) U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,958; (19) U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,499; (20) U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,770; (21) U.S. Pat. No. 6,393,812; and, (22) The Basics of Oil Spill Cleanup by Mery Fingas, ISBN 9781566705370, CRC Press, Sep. 28 2000. The listing of the preceding documents is in no way an admission of the documents as prior art against the present invention or even as analogous art. The citation of any publication is for its disclosure prior to the filing date and should not be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior disclosure and/or prior invention. 
     Each one of the listed documents, and the disclosed methods and apparatuses therein, suffers from one or more of the following disadvantages: (1) they require the use of expensive chemicals; (2) they require the use of chemicals which contaminate collected matter and/or the medium; (3) they require the use of high-energy collection and/or concentration machines; (4) they require the use of expensive concentration and/or collection machines; (5) they pollute the environment by not being reusable or by being inefficient at collecting and/or concentrating; (6) they require constant supervision by an operator; (7) they require continued replacement of collection and/or concentration parts; (8) they require a high initial capital cost barrier, and thus a disincentive, for market entry; (9) they do not efficiently collect matter suspended in a water column; and, (10) they raise the cost of all downstream products and processes. Examples of methods and apparatuses which suffer from these disadvantages comprise centrifuges, hollow fiber filtration, cross flow filtration, tangential flow filtration, bubbling, flocculating, absorbent sheets, vaccums, holding tanks, skimmers, dispersants, adsorbents, and porous filters. 
     Extracting a suspended solid from a liquid medium, e.g. oil from water, using the known prior art methods and apparatuses is an expensive process and inefficient process that limits a society&#39;s ability to clean up after an oil spill or efficiently extract oil from tar sands or bitumen. Discovering a low cost and environmentally friendly solution to collecting and/or concentrating, e.g., oil or bitumen in water, could allow fossil fuel industries to increase efficiency on extraction and decrease negative environmental effects of their business. A device as described in the following detailed description provides advantages over the known attempts. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to a system that satisfies this need of a low initial, operating and downstream cost while being highly efficient and environmentally friendly for collecting matter suspended in a liquid medium. This and other unmet advantages are provided by the device and method described and shown in more detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A better understanding of the disclosed embodiments will be obtained from a reading of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein identical reference characters refer to identical parts: 
         FIG. 1  is prospective view of a system for collecting matter; 
         FIG. 2  is prospective view of a system for collecting matter comprising a moving mechanism; 
         FIG. 3  is prospective view of material comprising cut fibers and a first surface; 
         FIG. 4  is prospective view of material comprising looped fibers and a first surface; 
         FIG. 5  is prospective view of material comprising cut fibers, a second surface and a reinforcing surface; 
         FIG. 6  is prospective view of material comprising looped fibers, second surface, and reinforcing surface; 
         FIG. 7   a  is a view of cut fibers; 
         FIG. 7   b  is a view of cut fibers; 
         FIG. 7   c  is a view of cut fibers and a first surface; 
         FIG. 8   a  is a view of material comprising cut fibers, looped fibers and a first surface; 
         FIG. 8   b  is a view of material comprising looped fibers, a second surface and a reinforcement fiber; 
         FIG. 8   c  is a zoom view of material comprising looped fibers, a second surface, a first surface and a reinforcement fiber; 
         FIG. 8   d  is a zoom view of material comprising looped fibers, a second surface, a first surface and a reinforcement fiber; 
         FIG. 9   a  is a view of cut fibers; 
         FIG. 9   b  is a view of cut fibers and a first surface; 
         FIG. 9   c  is a view of cut fibers and a first surface; 
         FIG. 10  is a view of geometric shapes which can define a cross section of material; 
         FIG. 11  is a view of a system for collecting matter comprising a material, an extractor and a moving mechanism; 
         FIG. 12  is a view of a system for collecting matter comprising a looped portion, an extended portion and a drum roller; 
         FIG. 13  is a view of a system for collecting matter comprising a sheet; 
         FIG. 14   a  is a view of a system for collecting matter comprising a third surface and material in a stack; 
         FIG. 14   b  is a view of a system for collecting matter comprising a third surface and material in a stack; 
         FIG. 15   a  is a view of material emerging from a medium with collected matter; 
         FIG. 15   b  is a view of material emerging from a medium with collected matter; 
         FIG. 15   c  is a view of material emerging from a medium with collected matter; 
         FIG. 15   d  is a view of collected matter on a material; 
         FIG. 15   e  is a view of collected matter on a material; 
         FIG. 16   a  is a view of matter attached to a fiber; 
         FIG. 16   b  is a view of oil among fibers; 
         FIG. 17  is a view of system for collecting matter comprising an extractor, a tray and a container; 
         FIG. 18  is a view of system for collecting matter comprising at least one extractor and a container; 
         FIG. 19  is a view of system for collecting matter comprising an extractor, a material and a container; 
         FIG. 20  is a view of system for collecting matter comprising an extractor, a material a container and a medium; 
         FIG. 21  is a view of system for collecting matter comprising a material, a container, a flotation and a basket; 
         FIG. 22  is a view of system for collecting matter comprising an extractor, a medium, a material and a boat; 
         FIG. 23  is a view of system for collecting matter comprising an extractor, a medium, a material, a container and a boat; 
         FIG. 24  is a view of system for collecting matter comprising an extractor, a medium, a material, a container and a boat; 
         FIG. 25  is a view of system for collecting matter comprising an extractor, a medium, a material, a container, a raft, an energy converter and a dewatering unit; 
         FIG. 26  is a view of a system for collecting matter comprising a medium, a material and a boat; 
         FIG. 27   a  is a view of a system for collecting matter comprising a cell, a material and a container; 
         FIG. 27   b  is a view of a system for collecting matter comprising a cell, a material, an extractor and a container; 
         FIG. 28   a  is a view of a system for collecting matter comprising a container, a directional funnel and an extractor; 
         FIG. 28   b  is a view of a system for collecting matter comprising an extractor; and, 
         FIG. 29  is a view of a system for collecting matter comprising an extractor, a medium, suspended matter, a tray and collected matter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Prior to describing the various embodiments, the following definitions are provided and should be used unless otherwise indicated. 
     Definitions 
     In describing the disclosed subject matter, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set forth below. 
     “Comprising” is an open ended transition word that when preceding a list or description the word connotes that the following list or description does not fully list or describe all possibilities; therefore, the list or description can contain additional elements not listed or described. 
     “Consisting” is a close ended transition word that when preceding a list or description the word connotes that the following list or description is complete. 
     A “medium” is any environment which is predominantly liquid wherein solids and/or chemicals may exist in the medium in suspension, dispersion or solution. Medium refers to aqueous and non-aqueous mediums equally. 
     An “aqueous medium” is a medium which is predominantly comprised of liquid water, and the water is at least one selected from the group comprised of fresh water, brackish water, salt water, marine water, briny water, commercial waste water, residential waste water and agricultural waste water. Examples of bodies of aqueous mediums, which can be natural or engineered, include rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, oceans, bays, fjords, retaining ponds, settling ponds, raceways, holding tanks, settling tank, photo bio reactors. A “non-aqueous medium” is predominantly comprised of a non-water liquid, such as oil, tar sands or bitumen. A medium can be a combination of aqueous and non-aqueous mediums, i.e. it is difficult to tell what is predominant or localized variations in concentration would lead to differing conclusions. 
     “Deploying” is the action of introducing a material into a medium. A material that is deployed can be fully or partially submerged in a medium, floating on a surface of a medium or combinations thereof. 
     “Resides” is a point in space where at least a substantial portion of material exists in a medium; therefor, a description of where the material resides is not intended to mean where 100% of the material resides, rather that is the general location where a substantial portion of the material is deployed. 
     “Matter” is a solid, semi-solid and/or chemical suspended, dispersed or dissolved in a medium. Matter is at least one selected from the group comprised of algae, oil, bitumen, tar sands, bacteria, silt, sand, ethane, hexanol, nitrates, phosphates, benzene, lead, mercury, cadmium, iron, aluminum and arsenic. 
     “Bitumen” is a viscous form of petroleum found in bituminous sands, which is also known as oil sands or tar sands. Bituminous sand is a mixture of sand, clay, water and bitumen. 
     “Collection” is a capture of matter on a material, as described below. Collection also includes any matter which is captured by, between or proximate to matter already captured by the material. Matter can form multiple layers on the material surface, and any subsequent matter layers are considered to be collected though it may not be touching or interlocked with, or in physical or bonded contact with the material. The process of collection is at least one selected from the group of active collection, passive collection and growth collection. Similar words which are intended to invoke variations of this definition comprise collects, collecting, collected and to collect. 
     “Collected matter” is any matter that is collected by, between or proximate to a material. 
     “Active collection” is a process of how a material collects matter, and active collection occurs in two common scenarios: (1) when the material is predominantly collecting matter while in motion relative to the medium and/or matter; (2) when the material is predominantly collecting matter while the medium is forced to pass through, over and/or around the material. An example of (1) is when the material is passed through the medium by active dragging behind a boat or rotating like a conveyor belt. An example of (2) is when the material is fixed in a housing such as inside a medium conduit and the medium is forced by gravity and/or pressure to flow through, over and/or around the material. 
     “Passive collection” is a process of how a material collects matter, and passive collection occurs when the material is suspended in, placed on a surface or at a boundary of a medium and the matter collects on the material. Passive collection still occurs when there is relative motion between the material and/or the medium and/or the matter; however, that relative motion occurs, e.g., due to wind, currents and/or waves. 
     The practical difference between active and passive collection is that active collection occurs generally when humans directly or indirectly act to cause the relative motion whereas passive collection occurs generally when natural forces act to cause the relative motion. Additionally, the material can be actively collecting for a period of time and then transition to passive collection for another period of time. Furthermore, the boundary between what is active and passive collection may blur, e.g. when material is placed at an apex of a human made spill way and the medium flows through, over and/or around the material under force of gravity. That could be categorized as partially active and partially passive collection; however, if either passive or active collection is occurring, then the material is being used in accordance with this invention. In conclusion as to this point, active and passive are relative terms which are not intended to be mutually exclusive or absolute; they are only intended to roughly categorize different methods of deploying the material in a medium at any given time. 
     “Growth collection” is a process by which matter grows on a material, and growth collection occurs when a suspended and/or dissolved solid increases its mass while attached to the material due to metabolic processes. A suspended solid which is capable of growing on the material is algae and other microorganism to form a biofilm. Growth collection can be any proportion or no proportion, in relation to passive and active collection, of the method by which the matter is collected on the material. 
     “Material” is any three dimensional object, consistent with its description below, that is capable of collecting matter in a medium. “Material” is short for “material for collecting matter”; therefore, a reference to a material is understood to be a material for collecting matter, unless indicated otherwise. 
     “Deployed material” is material that was introduced into a medium irrespective of whether the material resides at a surface of the medium, a boundary of the medium or is fully or partially submerged in the medium. 
     An “extractor” is any device, consistent with its description below, that removes collected matter from a material. Examples of an extractor is at least one selected from the group comprising an orifice, a belt roller, a nested roller, a funnel, a vacuum, a scraper, an electric charge, a spinner, a vibrator, a human hand, a steamer and heater. Similar words which are intended to invoke variations of this definition comprise extraction, extracting, to extract and extracts. 
     “Extracted matter” is any matter that is formerly collected matter due to an extractor or extraction process. The extracted matter will be a combination of formerly suspended and/or dissolved matter and the medium in which the matter was suspended and/or dissolved. 
     A “container” is any device which is capable retaining or storing, for any amount of time, collected matter while segregating the collected matter from a medium. Examples of containers are barrels, boxes, troughs, hoppers, tubes, pipes, trays, buckets and bladders. The collected matter can flow to the container in any number of ways, including by gravity, by pump, by conveyor, or by another container such as a pipe or bucket. 
     A “dwell time” or a “dwell period” is a duration that a material spends in a medium, and the material may be motionless or in motion. Collection occurs during the dwell period; however, the material is not necessarily collecting continuously or at a same rate during the dwell period. 
     A “boat” is any vessel for transport by water, constructed to provide buoyancy by excluding water and shaped to give stability and permit propulsion. A boat also includes any apparatus connected, attached or affixed, permanently or temporarily, to the boat and also including anything towed or transported by the boat such as a raft, dock, platform or flotation. 
     “Algae” is plural for any organism with chlorophyll and, in multicellular algae, a thallus not differentiated into roots, stems and leaves, and encompasses prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms that are photoautotrophic or facultative heterotrophs. The term “algae” includes macroalgae (such as seaweed) and microalgae. For certain embodiments of the disclosure, algae that are not macroalgae are preferred. The term algae used interchangeably herein, refers to any microscopic algae, phytoplankton, photoautotrophic or facultative heterotroph protozoa, photoautotrophic or facultative heterotrophic prokaryotes, and cyanobacteria (commonly referred to as blue-green algae and formerly classified as Cyanophyceae). The use of the term “algal” also relates to microalgae and thus encompasses the meaning of “microalgal.” The term “algal composition” refers to any composition that comprises algae, and is not limited to the body of water or the culture in which the algae are cultivated. An algal composition can be an algal culture, a concentrated algal culture, or a dewatered mass of algae, and can be in a liquid, semi-solid, or solid form. A non-liquid algal composition can be described in terms of moisture level or percentage weight of the solids. An “algal culture” is an algal composition that comprises live algae. 
     Overview 
     A system for collecting matter provides a low energy, low cost and nearly zero pollutant process for extracting suspended matter in a medium. The system collects the matter on a material which is deployed into the medium, and the matter is extracted off the material. If an oil spill occurs in a body of water, then the material can rapidly remove the oil from the water in high concentrations. If oil or bitumen is mixed with water due to tar sands processing, then the material can extract the oil or the water depending on a balance of oleophilic or hydrophilic properties of the material. The extracted matter and the medium can proceed to further processing such as water purification and/or petroleum refining. This invention collects matter in an economically and environmentally viable manner. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  depict embodiments of systems for collecting matter; however,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show optional features which are not necessary to practice every embodiment of the invention. These systems for collecting matter were chosen, because a detailed discussion of many possible systems and their individual features is aided by first giving the system context. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a system for collecting matter comprises a material  101  for collecting matter (not visible) in a medium  121 . Material  101  in  FIG. 1  is depicted as two individual and independent portions of material  101 . In this embodiment, medium  121  is a fresh water aqueous medium. Collected matter is not visible for reasons discussed below. In  FIG. 1 , a small pump (not visible) is inducing slight movement of medium  121  in body  143  to simulate natural forces and to make passive collection a dominant collection mechanism. Flow rate through the pump can be increased to convert passive collection to active collection; furthermore, the pump can be turned off to make growth and/or passive collection the dominant collection process. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , another embodiment of an system for collecting matter comprises material  201  which is deployed in medium  221  which contains matter (not visible). In this embodiment, medium  221  is a fresh water aqueous. Material  201  emerges, in part, from medium  221  by rotation of a moving mechanism  251 , which is, in this embodiment, a drum shaped device. Material  201  also emerges, in part, from medium  221  by rotation of an extractor. The extractor, in this embodiment, is belt roller  213  which compresses material  201  as it passes between two rollers. The compressive force extracts collected matter  233 , and the extracted matter is retained by a container embodied as tray  263 . Material  201  is formed into a belt. After a portion of material  201  passes through extractor  213  that same portion is deployed into medium  221  to collect more matter. The rotational motion causes active collection to be a dominant collection mechanism. The rotational motion can be continuous or intermittent or even stopped to promote any one of growth collection, passive collection or active collection. 
     Discussion 
     Material 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a material for collecting matter is comprised of at least a first surface  302  or  402  and a fiber. The fiber can be cut fiber  304  which is bound to the first surface  303 , or the fiber can be a looped fiber which is bound to the first surface  402 . The material can contain a combination of cut fibers  304  and looped fibers  405  which are bound to a common surface such as first surface  302  or  402 . Cut fiber  304  and/or looped fiber  405  can be composed of a single filament or multiple filaments spun, twisted, braided or bunched to form substantially a single fiber such as a tuft, yarn, cord or rope. 
     Cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  ranges in length from 0.25″ to 12″ and more. More preferably, cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  is between 0.5″ and 3″, and an example preferred length of cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  is 1″. Spacing between a base of any two cut fibers  304  can range from 0.01″ to 7″ and more. More preferably, the spacing is 0.025″ to 1″, and an example preferred spacing distance of cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  is 0.05″. If cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  is a single filament, then the diameter of cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  can range from 0.0001″ to 0.10″ and more, and an example of a preferred filament diameter of cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  is 0.0003″. If cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  is multifilament, then the diameter of that cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  is 0.0001″ to 2″ and more, and an example of a preferred multifilament diameter of cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  is 0.15″. It should be noted that even if a multifilament cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  is composed of the same number and size individual filaments, cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  can have different diameters due to its method of processing, e.g., spinning, twisting or bunching. A bunched multifilament cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  would, everything else being equal, likely have more interstitial voids between fibers than twisted and maybe even more than spun and maybe even more than braided. 
     Cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  is constructed from at least one substance selected from the group comprising polystyrene, polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl, rayon, cotton, hemp, wool, silk, polyolefins, acrylic, nylon, flax, jute, glass, pina, coir, straw, bamboo, velvet, felt, lyocell, spandex, polyurethane, olefin, polyactide and carbon fibre, any blend of these and/or any recycled products of these, and cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405 , if multifilament, can be constructed from a blend of any of those listed substances. An example of preferable substances is nylon and polyester. If cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  is a natural fiber, then it can be manufactured in any process known in the art, such as by opening, carding, drawing, roving, spinning and/or twisting. If cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  is made from synthetic fibers, then it can be manufactured in any process known in the art, such as by extruding or spinning. 
     Cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  can be treated or processed to make it more or less oleophilic, oleophobic, hydrophilic and hydrophobic such as by adding or removing polymers known in the art which have the named properties. Examples of materials which are oleophilic comprise polypropylene, polyester, polyvinylchloride, steel or aluminum. Furthermore, materials with a combination of the listed properties is particularly advantageous if the material is preferential such as if a material is both oleophilic and hydrophilic but more oleophilic than hydrophilic. For example, integrating polyester may increase the oleophilic and hydrophilic nature of cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405 , but the cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  will be preferentially oleophilic. Although not intended to be limiting, if polyester material is deployed in an oil and water medium, then oil will dominate as collected matter over water; therefore, oil can be removed from the water and stored without removing the water its environment. This advantage increases recovery rate of, e.g., an oil spill in aqueous medium. Furthermore, this permits the use of the material for tar sand or bitumen recovery after, e.g., water or steam is used to bring oil to the earth&#39;s surface. An oleophobic material, such as nylon or cotton, can be used to collect matter in a non-aqueous medium, such as oil, to lower levels of matter in the oil. 
     Cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405  can be treated or processed to make it more or less conductive, such as by adding carbon or a polymer. Individual filaments of cut fiber can be processed to have any cross sectional shape from a circle, to a W or S shape, to a triangle, to a square, to a pentagon, to a hexagon, to an octagon, to star shaped. An example preferred embodiment is polyester in a circle or nylon in a W shape. Furthermore, individual filaments of cut fiber can be processed to have any longitudinal shape from a hair, to a W or S shape. 
     First surface  302  or  402  has a thickness to it which can be seen in  FIG. 3  or  FIG. 4 , respectively, and that thickness can range from 0.01″ to 1.0″ and more. More preferably, first surface  302  has thickness between 0.02″ and 0.5″, and an example preferred thickness of first surface  302  is 0.025″. As the surface area of first surface  302  or  402  increases due to increasing length and/or width of, e.g., a belt of the material, the thickness of first surface  302  or  402  will likely increase to compensate for the increase in tensile forces exhibited during operation of the system for collecting matter. Alternatively, a second surface, as described below, can be attached to the first surface  302  or  402  to reduce strain on the first surface, in whole or in part. 
     First surface  302  or  402  can be constructed from any process known in the art which would make a planar surface from at least one substance selected from the group comprising polystyrene, polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl, rayon, cotton, hemp, wool, silk, polyolefins, acrylic, nylon, flax, jute, glass, pina, coir, straw, bamboo, velvet, felt, lyocell, spandex, polyurethane, olefin, polyactide, rubber, Kevlar, metallic mesh, carbon fibre, any blend of these and/or recycled products of these. An example of preferable substances is nylon and polyester. First surface  302  or  402  can be manufactured in any process known in the art, such as by weaving, knitting, tufting, spread tow, felting, thermal or mechanical bonding, extrusion, injection molding, compression molding or stamping. 
     Although the cut fiber  304  and looped fiber  405  are bound to their respective first surfaces, repeated extraction cycles could cause the fibers to disconnect from the first surface  302  or  402 , and such disconnection could be detrimental to a material&#39;s collection rate. Therefore, the fibers, such as cut fiber  304  and looped fiber  405 , can be further secured to the first surface by way of fiber reinforcement  306  or  406 . Fiber reinforcement  306  or  406  are represented as dashed lines, because the fiber reinforcement can be integrated into the first surface  302  or  402 , respectively, or on a portion of first surface  302  or  402  which is not visible given the particular view. Alternatively, fiber reinforcement  306  or  406  can be attached to the first surface such that cut fiber  304  or looped fiber  405 , respectively, not only intersects the first surface and but also is reinforced by fiber reinforcement  306  or  406 , respectively, at substantially the same point in space. Said attachment can occur with bonding by welding, adhering, stitching, laminating or any other process known by a person of skill in the art which can bond two or more surfaces together. Fiber reinforcement  306  and  406  can be manufactured from any synthetic or natural fiber which would increase the number of extraction cycles a fiber can endure without disconnecting from the first surface  302  or  402 . An example of a preferred embodiment of a fiber reinforcement is a high twist multifilament nylon strand. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an example embodiment of a material for collecting matter further comprises a second surface  503  or  603  which is attached to a first surface, such as first surface  302  or  402  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively, of the material. Said attachment can occur with bonding by welding, adhering, stitching, laminating or any other process known by a person of skill in the art which can bond two or more surfaces together. Second surface  503  and  603  can provide additional features to the material which may not be provided, in whole or in part, by said first surface. Such additional features comprise improved tensile strength, increased or decreased flexibility or rigidity, increased or decreased coefficient of friction for, e.g., configuring to an extractor or moving mechanism, increased or decreased buoyancy, and/or increased or decreased collection rates. In an example embodiment, a second surface  503  or  603  could be constructed of a foam which may cause, e.g., an increase in buoyancy, a reduction of drag in a medium, a reduction of belt friction on a moving mechanism. In an example embodiment, a second surface  503  or  603  could be another first surface complete with cut fibers and/or looped fibers which may, e.g., cause an increase in collection rate. In an example embodiment, a second surface  503  or  603  could be a polymeric sheet which may cause an increase or decrease in buoyancy depending on density, an increase in rigidity and increase in tensile strength. An example of a preferred embodiment of a second surface is a closed cell polyethylene foam which permits the material to reside at a boundary between a medium and the atmosphere. Another example of a preferred embodiment as a second surface is another first surface with cut fibers and/or looped fibers so as to create a double sided material. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an example embodiment of a material for collecting matter further comprises a surface reinforcement  507  or  607  attached to a surface of the material. Although the material has a high tensile strength, repeated extraction cycles could cause a rupture in a surface of the material. Surface reinforcement  507  and  607  are shown as attached to second surface  503  and  603 , respectively; however, surface reinforcement  507  and  607  could be attached to a first surface, such as first surface  302  or  402  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively, of the material regardless of whether second surface  503  or  603  exist. A surface reinforcement system could integrate into or with a fiber reinforcement system such that reinforcement of a fiber or a surface is achieved using the same reinforcement. Said attachment of the surface reinforcement  507  or  607  to a surface of the material can occur with bonding by welding, adhering, stitching, laminating or any other process known by a person of skill in the art which can bond two or more surfaces together. Surface reinforcement  507  or  607  can be any reinforcement material known to a person of skill in the art which could increase the tensile strength of a surface such as woven nylon, Kevlar sheets, extruded polymers, carbon nanotubes, metallic meshes and many others. An example of a preferred embodiment of surface reinforcement is a nylon seatbelt like material stitched to a distal surface of the material from which cut fibers and or looped fibers protrude, such as is seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b , an example embodiment of a cut fiber  704  is shown in increasing zoom. In this example embodiment, cut fiber  704  is a multifilament bunched fiber with a substantially circular cross section.  FIG. 7C  is an example embodiment of the cut fiber  704  and a first surface  702 . The first surface  702  is a woven structure composed of multifilament wefts and warps with cut fiber  704  interlaced between said wefts and warps and projecting out from first surface  702 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8   a , an example embodiment of a material for collecting matter is comprised of a first surface  802 , a cut fiber  804  and a looped fiber  805 . In this example embodiment, first surface  802  is constructed by weaving nylon straps having a width of 0.05″ and a thickness 0.015″. Cut fiber  804  is a multifilament nylon wind protruding 1.5″ from the first surface, and an approximate diameter of cut fiber  804  is 0.25″. Looped fiber  805  is of the same construction as cut fiber  804 , and looped fiber  805  protrudes 0.75″ from first surface  802 . An approximate width of looped fiber  805 , taking into account a central void formed by the looped fibers, is 0.75″. Spacing between any two cut fibers  804  and/or looped fibers  805  is between 0.5″ and 0.65″. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8   b , an example embodiment of a material for collecting matter is comprised of a looped fiber  805 , a second surface  803  and a fiber reinforcement  806 . Second surface  803  is constructed of a 0.15″ thick nylon sheet bonded to at least a first surface (not visible). Fiber reinforcement  806 , which runs the length of the material, is a 0.15″ diameter nylon winding which is connected to looped fiber  805 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8   c  and  8   d , an example embodiment of a material for collecting matter is comprised of a looped fiber  805 , a first surface  802 , a second surface  803  and a fiber reinforcement  806 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9   a  to  9   c , an example embodiment of a material for collecting matter is comprised of a first surface  902  and a cut fiber  904 . First surface  902  is a polyester weave comprised of a 0.010″ diameter multifilament thread. Cut fiber  904 , which is anchored to first surface  902  by woven integration, is a 0.05″ diameter multifilament polyester wind protruding one inch from the first surface  902 . Spacing between any two cut fiber  904  ranges between 0.010″ and 0.1″. 
     The example embodiments of a material for collecting matter discussed above have all represented the material as substantially planar; however and as shown in  FIG. 10 , a cross section of the material can take on any geometric shape having surface  10   a  and surface  10   b.  Surface  10   a  can be a first surface, as described above, and surface  10   b  can be second surface, as described above. Alternatively, surface  10   a  can be a second surface, and surface  10   b  can be first surface. Furthermore, surfaces  10   a  and  10   b  can have the same or different chemical and/or geometric structure. Surfaces  10   a  and  10   b  can be different surfaces of the same three dimensional object; therefore, either  10   a  and  10   b  are both a first surface or  10   a  and  10   b  are both a second surface. 
     If the combination of surfaces  10   a  and  10   b  form a closed geometric shape, then the internal void defined by the surfaces  10   a  and  10   b  can be filled with an object. That object can increase or decrease the buoyancy of the material. For example, a stainless steel cables will decrease the material&#39;s buoyancy where as a closed cell polyethylene foam will increase the material&#39;s buoyancy. Furthermore, the object can be absorbent such that it will collect matter through absorption in addition to matter collected on material. In an example embodiment, the object is a polypropylene fiber and/or foam and the matter is oil. The closed geometric shape can be formed, e.g., by first taking a planar sheet of material, then folding it over and then joining the edges together. The exact geometric shape of such stitched material takes can be determined by, e.g., the shape of the inserted object. Alternatively, a first or second layer can be processed directly into any geometric shape, open or closed, by any known method in the art, such as stamping, crimping, extruding, injection molding, compression molding. In an example preferred embodiment, surface  10   a  is a first surface, surface  10   b  is a second surface. In another example preferred embodiment, a material for collecting matter has a cross sectional geometric shape that is substantially oval. 
       FIGS. 11-13  display diverse embodiments that a material, as described in example embodiments above, can be constructed into. As shown in  FIG. 11 , an example embodiment of a system for collecting matter is comprised of a material  1101 , an extractor  1113  and a moving mechanism  1151 . The FIGURE omits a medium for simplicity. Material  1101  is formed into a belt that is looped around moving mechanism  1151  represented by a pair of drums capable of rotation and advancing, in whole or in part, material  1101  through extractor  1111 , represented by a pair of rollers which are also capable of rotation and advancing, in whole or in part the material  1101 . The belt can range in circumference from 1 to 100 feet; however, the upper boundary of circumference is only limited by tensile strength of the belt and power to the moving mechanism. Therefore, a belt with substantial reinforcements, as described above coupled with a high powered motor driving the moving mechanism can reach circumferences of well over 100 feet to 500 feet and greater. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , an example embodiment of a system for collecting matter is comprised of a material and a moving mechanism. The FIGURE omits a medium for simplicity. The material is comprised of a hooped portion  1208  with an elongated portion  1209 . Hooped portion  1208  and elongated portion  1209  can be formed from the same or different configuration of material, including substance and geometry, as discussed above. The elongated portion  1209  allows the system to increase collection rate by increasing surface area of the material and by probing a portion of the medium not interacted with or by hooped portion  1208 . The moving mechanism is comprised of two drum rollers  1253  which simultaneously extract matter from the material and advance the material through the drum rollers  1253 . Alternatively, hooped portion  1208  can be severed at any point to create a long rope like structure which can aid in storage or collection of the system seen in  FIG. 12 . The hooped portion can range in circumference from 1 to 100 feet; however, the upper boundary of circumference is only limited by tensile strength of the hooped portion and power to the moving mechanism. Therefore, a belt with substantial reinforcements, as described above coupled with a high powered motor driving the moving mechanism can reach circumferences of well over 100 feet to 500 feet and greater. The elongated portion can range in length from 6 inches to 50 feet and greater. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , an example embodiment of a system for collecting matter is comprised of a material  1301 , and the material  1301  is formed by attaching several strips of material at their borders to form a larger sheet. The FIGURE omits a medium for simplicity. In an example embodiment, material  1301  can be towed across a medium&#39;s surface by boat to actively collect matter, and in another example embodiment, material  1301  can be anchored so that it passively collects matter. Material  1301  can be rolled up for storage purposes, and material  1301  can be deployed into or emerge out of a medium by rolling out or up, respectively. The strips can range in length from 6 inches to 100 feet and greater; however, the upper boundary of length is only limited by tensile strength of the strip. Therefore, a strip with substantial reinforcements can reach well over 100 feet to 500 feet and greater. The strips can range in width from 1 inch to 100 inches and greater, and a sheet can range in width from 2 inches to 50 feet and greater. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b , an example embodiment of a system for collecting matter is comprised of a material  1401  and a flotation  1471 . Material  1401  is first folded in half and then stitched along an edge to form a closed geometric shape. Material  1401  is then attached to third surface  1471  to form a stack configuration. Third surface  1471  can be used to increase or decrease the stack&#39;s buoyancy and/or tensile strength, and the third surface  1471  can be constructed of at least one selected from the group of foam, plastic, wood, metal, metal fiber, any fiber material listed above. The stack embodiment increases the surface area per unit volume of material  1401 . The stacks can range in length from 6 inches to 100 feet and greater; however, the upper boundary of length is only limited by tensile strength of the third surface  1471 . Therefore, a the third surface  1471  with substantial reinforcements can reach well over 100 feet to 300 feet and greater. The stack can range in width from 1 inch to 60 inches and greater, and a sheet, composed of several stacks attached side by side, can range in width from 1 inche to 50 feet and greater. 
     Collection 
     Although not intended to be a limiting statement, the matter may collect on the material by at least one process selected from the group of mechanically, chemically and electrically. A mechanical attraction could be, e.g., that a particle of matter becomes entangled by a fiber. A chemical attraction could be, e.g., that a chemical bond forms between a particle of matter and a fiber. An electrical attraction could be, e.g., that a particle carries an electrical charge which is substantially opposite to a charge present on a fiber&#39;s surface. Matter may collect on a material in any combination of the aforementioned processes. Large quantities of matter can collect on material in the same manner as small quantities, but collection rate of matter may increase due to agglomeration of matter which may increase the surface area of the material which allows for more points of collection along the material&#39;s surface. Agglomeration could overtake other process of collection as a dominate process. 
     The process of collecting of matter is aided through material selection when considering to the matter, the medium and the material. In an example embodiment, if a material is constructed of an oleophilic substance and matter to be collected is oil or a lipid containing organism, then the matter will be attracted to and collect on the material. In an example embodiment, if a material is constructed of an oleophilic substance with hydrophobic properties and a material to be collected is oil or a lipid containing organism in an aqueous medium, then the matter will be attracted to and collect on the material preferentially over the aqueous medium. Preferred embodiments of oleophilic and hydrophobic substances include polyester, polyethylene and polypropylene. In another example embodiment, if a material is constructed of a light conducting material and the matter to be collected is attracted to light, then the matter might collect on the material at an increased initial collection rate over non-light conducting material. The increased initial rate could quicken the point at which collection is dominated by agglomeration which will increase overall collection rate. An example embodiment of a light conducting material is an extruded polyester fiber which may conduct a light source&#39;s rays/beams which may then attract a photosynthetic organism, such as algae. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 15   a - 15   c , an example embodiment of a material for collecting matter is comprised of collected matter  1533  which is emerging from a medium  1521 . Prior to deployment, the material was white, and the material, as seen prior to extraction, is significantly darkened. The darkening occurs because of the collection of matter in medium  1521 . The matter is not visible as individual particles of matter, because, e.g., algae is measured on a micro meter scale. Therefore, a viewer unaided by magnifying technology can only see the matter as a conglomerate of many particles of collected matter  1533  which is represented in  FIGS. 15   a - 15   c  as dark spots on an otherwise white material. 
     An example of matter collected on material is seen in  FIGS. 15   d  and  15   e . In this example, the collected matter  1539  is oil. Prior to deployment, the material was white, and the material, as seen prior to extraction, is significantly darkened. The darkening occurs because of the collection of matter in a medium. The matter is not visible as individual particles of matter, because, e.g., oil droplets are measured on a micro meter scale. Therefore, a viewer unaided by magnifying technology can only see the matter as a conglomerate of many particles of collected matter  1539  which is represented in  FIGS. 15   d  and  15   e  as dark spots on an otherwise white material. 
     Collected matter  1539  is visible in the aggregate, because it turned the otherwise white material a dark brown or even black. 
     Although the following is not limiting to the invention, a difference can occur in collection between different particles of matter. As seen in  FIG. 16   a , collected matter  1637 , which is algae, is attached to a surface of material  1601 . The algae are approximately 2 μm in diameter, and it appears to be a discrete under high zoom. As seen in  FIG. 16   b , collected matter  1639 , which is oil, not only attaches to the material  1601  but also appears to create a continuous membrane which spans the distance between individual fibers of material  1601 . The differing phenomenon is only discussed to exhibit visual differences in how matter and material mechanically interact at a micron level. 
     Extraction 
     As seen in  FIG. 17 , an example embodiment for a system for collecting matter is comprised of an extractor, a tray  1763  and a container  1765 . The extractor is represented as belt roller  1753  which also combines as a moving mechanism to advance belted material (not visible). Belt roller  1753  applies compressive force to extract collected matter from the belted material. The extracted matter falls under force of gravity into a tray  1763  which funnels the extracted matter into container  1765  for storage. 
     As seen in  FIG. 18 , an example embodiment for a system for collecting matter is comprised of an orifice  1815 , a belt roller  1813  and a container  1865 . Material (not shown) passes through orifice  1815  and into container  1865 . Orifice  1815  applies compressive and shear forces to extract collected matter from the material. The material then passes through belt roller  1813  which extracts any remaining matter using compressive forces. Extracted matter from both orifice  1815  and belt roller  1813  fall into container  1865  for storage. 
     As seen in  FIG. 19 , an example embodiment for a system for collecting matter is comprised of an orifice  1915 , a material  1901  and a container  1965 . Material  1901  has emerged from a medium (not shown) and is passing through an orifice  1915  which applies compressive and shear forces to extract extracted matter  1935 , seen as a droplet of high concentrated matter suspended in a medium. The extracted matter  1935  is collected by container  1965 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 20 , an example embodiment for a system for collecting matter is comprised of a funnel  2017 , material  2001  and a medium  2021 . Extraction of collected matter on the material  2001  occurs by passing material  2001  through funnel  2017 . Extracted matter collects in a beaker  2067 . 
     Although not limiting to the invention, an interesting advantage to the current system is what happens to extracted matter as it sits in a container. If a matter is algae and a medium is water, then the algae would be suspended in the water column due to a slight electric charge. After collection and extraction, the material appears to strip the algae of the charge which induces settling inside the container. In one example, algae can settle to the bottom of the container in ten minutes at a quantity which could take several days to achieve by trying have algae settle that is suspended in a water column. If extracted matter is collected in a container and subsequently settles, then remaining water can be pumped to a water jet to further aid in extraction of matter. This effect is another advantage which permits the current system to reduce costs associated with creating an end user commercial product from algae. 
     Although not limiting to the invention, it is believed that a majority of collected matter collects on material by mechanical processes; therefore, mechanical extraction—by using a roller or an orifice, or by spinning or vibrating the material, or by using compressed air or water jet to blow or a vacuum to suck off matter—appears to extract a large proportion of collected matter. A high pressure, low volume sprayer also works well to remove algae. Other means, however, can be used to extract collected matter, such as inducing a charge in the material to cause the material and the matter to repel each other. That charge can, e.g., be applied directly such as by creating a voltage potential, or the charge can occur at the molecular level using substances which create their own charges under specific situations such as exposure to oxygen, chemicals or UV light. Another possible method is through agitation of the material to induce extraction which does not necessarily require contact between the material and a physical device, such as a roller or orifice. Another possible method is through sonication which directs high energy sound waves to extract collected matter. Another possible method is through extraction using a human hand by forming an orifice with curled fingers. If extracted matter and/or medium is highly viscous, such as bitumen or oil can be, then extraction by adding heat, such as with steam or a heater, can increase the bitumen or oil&#39;s viscosity and therefore aid in extraction. 
     Systems and Environments 
     Systems for collecting matter not previously discussed are detailed in this section. 
     As seen in  FIG. 21 , an example embodiment of a system for collecting matter is comprised of medium  2121 , material  2101 , flotation  2171  and basket  2181 . Material  2101  is formed into a single long strip which is placed into basket  2181 , and basket  2181  is able to float on a surface of medium  2121  by attaching flotation  2171  to the basket  2181 . Suspended matter (not visible) is suspended in medium  2121 , and the suspended matter passively collects on material  2101 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 22 , another example embodiment of a system for collecting matter is comprised of medium  2221 , material  2201 , a belt roller  2213  and a boat  2283 . Material  2201  is constructed into a belt and affixed to a side of boat  2283  floating an a surface of medium  2221 . Material  2201  is deployed in medium  2221 , and it advances through belt roller  2213 , which extracts actively collected matter that darkened material  2201  in the top picture in  FIG. 22 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 23 , another example embodiment of a system for collecting matter is comprised of suspended matter  2331 , material  2301 , flotation  2373 , extractor  2313 , boat  2383 , medium  2321  and bladder  2368 . Suspended matter  2331 , which is oil, has darkened medium  2321 . Material  2301  submerges into medium  2321  to collect suspended matter  2331 , and material  2301  emerges from medium  2321  to advance towards extractor  2313  to extract collected matter. Extracted matter is collected on flotation  2373 , which pumps collected matter to bladder  2368 , and flotation  2373  and/or bladder  2369  is towed by boat  2383 . Material  2301  advances by a moving mechanism (not visible); therefore, material  2301  is actively collecting suspended matter  2331 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 24 , another example embodiment of a system for collecting matter is comprised of material  2401 , drum  2365 , extractor  2413 , boat  2483  and medium  2421 . Suspended matter is not visible in  FIG. 24 , but the suspended matter is oil in an aqueous medium. Material  2401  submerges into medium  2421  to collect suspended matter, and material  2401  emerges from medium  2421  to advance towards extractor  2413  to extract collected matter. Extracted matter is collected in drum  2465  which is integrated with boat  2483  as a single matter collecting system. Material  2401  advances by a moving mechanism (not visible); therefore, material  2401  is actively collecting suspended matter. 
     As seen in  FIG. 25 , another example embodiment of a system for collecting matter is comprised of material  2501 , medium  2521 , flotation  2571 , extractor  2511 , dewatering unit  2591  and energy converter  2592 . Material  2501  is contained within flotation  2571 , as seen in a cutout window, such that material  2501  passively collects suspended solids (not visible) while incorporated amongst flotation  2571  which as at a surface of medium  2521 . Material  2501  is advanced to extractor  2511  which can be a combination of at least one extractor, as defined above, to extract collected matter. Extracted matter is transported to dewatering unit  2591 , and the dewatered extracted matter can be further processed at energy converter  2592 . Energy converter  2592  can contain solar panels to convert the sun&#39;s light into electricity to power units such as a moving mechanism, and a dewatering machine. Furthermore, the solar panels can further dry the dewatered extracted matter to use either as another energy source or for storage until the further dewatered extracted matter can be retrieved by an operator. The other energy source can be extracted matter converted into energy by simple incineration, pyrolysis or any other method known in the art. Finally, the solar panels, and or direct solar energy, can be used to distill water that is associated with extracted matter. 
     As seen in  FIG. 26 , another example embodiment of a system for collecting matter is comprised of material  2601 , medium  2621  and boat  2683 . In this example embodiment, boat  2683  can tow material  2601  to a location on medium  2621 , which can be any open body of water. Material  2601  and/or boat  2683  can be anchored so that material  2601  can passively collect suspended matter in medium  2621 . If material  2601  is anchored, then boat  2683 , can, e.g., return to shore to tow out another sheet of material  2601 . Alternatively, boat  2683  can drag material  2601  over or partially submerged in medium  2621  to actively collect suspended matter. 
     As seen in  FIG. 27 , another example embodiment of a system for collecting matter is comprised of material  2701 , body  2745 , container  2765  and belt roller  2713 . A medium (not shown) would fill up body  2745  in the same way water fills a swimming pool. Material  2701  is deployed in the type of collection that can occur is at least one selected from the group of growth collection, actively collection and passive collection. If growth collection is desired, then material  2701  is deployed in a medium with a low concentration of suspended matter, e.g. algae, that passively collects on material  2701  while the material  2701  is stagnant or moving slowly. The collected matter grows into a colony of algae and then material  2701  advances towards belt roller  2713  to extract the growth collected material to be stored in container  2765 . Alternatively, material  2701  is deployed in a medium with a high concentration of suspended matter, e.g. algae, that passively collects on material  2701  if rotated slowly or if stagnant. After the algae collects, the material advances towards belt roller  2713  to extract the passively collected material which is stored in container  2765 . Alternatively, material  2701  is deployed in a medium with a high concentration of suspended matter, e.g. algae, and the material is deployed and quickly rotated through the medium so that the algae passively collects on material  2701 . After the algae collects, the material advances towards belt roller  2713  to extract the actively collected material to be stored in container  2765 . Alternatively, the suspended matter could be tar sands, bitumen or oil. A body  2745  can range in length from 5 to 500 feet and greater, and body  2745  can range in width from 2 to 100 feet and greater. The length and width of the collection cell is limited only by available floor space; therefore, the length and width are non-limiting example sizes. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 28   a  and  28   b , an example embodiment of a system for collecting matter comprising a bucket  2869 , a pair of nested rollers  2819   a  and  2819   b  and a directional funnel  2893 . Material (not shown) passes over a first nested roller  2819   a  and into directional funnel  2893 . A purpose of the directional funnel  2893  is to direct the material between nested rollers  2819   a  and  2819   b.  First nested roller  2819   a  and second nested roller  2819   b  apply compressive force in over a shaped portion of material, as is seen best in  FIG. 28   b . First nested roller  2819   a  and second nested roller  2819   b  can be any shape which compliments a geometric shape of the material, as discussed above. In this example embodiment, extracted matter is collected by an optional bucket  2869 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 29 , an example embodiment of a system for collecting matter comprises medium  2921 , material  2901 , tray  2963 , matter  2939 , belt roller  2913 . Matter  2913  is oil suspended in medium  2921 , which is salt water. Material  2901  is constructed from a hydrophilic and oleophilic but preferentially oleophilic, such as polyester, and material  2901  is deployed in medium  2921 . Material  2901  advances out of medium  2921  and towards belt roller  2913  for extraction. Note the color difference between material  2901  before and after extraction; the color difference is caused by matter collected on the material but then extracted by belt roller  2913 . The extracted matter is retained by tray  2963 . 
     EXAMPLE TESTS 
     Example  1 
     A system as described in seen in  FIG. 29  was constructed. The material was formed into a belt by first folding the material over into a double sided material, then stitching along an edge and then stitching two ends together. The belt was  93  inches in circumference and 3 inches wide. 0.882 gallons of crude oil were introduced into the medium, and the belt was rotated through the medium at 4.043 in/sec. The crude was extracted at a rate of 0.37 gal/min, and the material absorbed 1.92 mL/in 2 . If these numbers are scaled up to a 30 inch wide belt, then the recovery rate becomes 3.709 gal/min, and 188 belts could remove 1,000,000 gal/day of crude. 
     The previously described embodiments of the present invention have many advantages, including systems for collecting matter in a low energy, low cost and nearly zero pollutant process. Embodiments of the invention do not need to incorporate all advantages that the invention achieves over prior art. 
     Having shown and described embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to affect the described invention and still be within the scope of the claimed invention. Thus, many of the elements indicated above may be altered or replaced by different elements which will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.