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What Are Sorbents For Oil Spills?

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Oil spills can be a significant environmental disaster, and the cleanup process can be long and difficult. Especially when crude oil leaks into the ocean, lakes, rivers, or wetlands. Which is not to say that spills on land are less harmful. Any oil spill can cause serious damage to the ecosystem and human health.

One common method of dealing with oil spills is sorbent products. They are widely used for spill response, to clean up and recover oil, in all types of industries. Such as mining, environmental remediation, and industrial waste management.

Sorbent pads for oil spills
Polypropylene oil sorbent pads soaking up a spill

But what are oil sorbents, what are they made from, and how do they work? In this blog post, we’ll answer those questions and more. We’ll also explore some of the different types of sorbents that are available on the market. So if you’re looking for information about sorbents for oil spills, read on!

How Do Oil Sorbents Work?

Sorbents are materials that absorb, adsorb, or, both (a combined process known as sorption). Adsorption and absorption mean quite different things. Therefore, it’s helpful to understand their distinction:

  • Absorption is the process of a substance soaking into an absorbent material. Similar to the capillary action of a straw, sucking up water. When an absorbent soaks in oil, it swells up in size by at least 70 percent.
  • Adsorption refers to individual molecules, atoms or ions gathering on surface of an adsorbent material. Much like dust particles sitting on a glass table top. An adsorbent collects a coating of oil on its surface, without swelling more than 50 percent.

There are also two other characteristics to know about, that are important to oil sorbents:

  • Oleophilic: meaning to attract oil.
  • Hydrophobic: meaning to repel water.

Combined, all these properties create effective sorbents for spill cleanup. Particularly for oil spills in bodies of water. By supporting oil recovery from the water’s surface with vacuum or skimmer equipment.

What Are the Different Types of Sorbent Materials?

There are three categories of materials that sorbents can be made from, including:

  1. Natural organic sorbents: plant or animal by-products like peat moss, sawdust, cellulose, and feathers. They can adsorb from 3 to 15 times their own weight in liquids (often water as well as oil).
  2. Natural inorganic sorbents: mineral type compounds including vermiculite, perlite, sand, and volcanic ash. They are able to adsorb between 4 to 20 times their weight in fluid.
  3. Synthetic sorbents: man-made products and synthetic polymers that are similar to plastics. For instance, polypropylene, polyurethane and polyethylene. Synthetic sorbents can adsorb or absorb 70 times their own weight.

Which Forms Do Sorbents For Oil Spills Come in?

Because sorbents are made from different materials, their size and appearance also vary. However, there are four primary forms of sorbents used for oil spill cleanup:

  • Bulk loose materials: such as granular sorbents that you dispense directly over a spill. These can be made of natural or synthetic materials.
  • Enclosed sorbents: like booms, pillows or socks. They have a fabric or mesh outer shell that encases a loose filling. The enclosed contents can be any of the three material categories above.
  • Continuous sorbents: including mats, pads, or rolls. Synthetics, like polypropylene, are the most common construction material. The flat sheet design of continuous sorbents provides a large surface area for oil recovery.
  • Loose fibers: often called ‘pom-poms’ because of their bundled strand design. They are mostly made from attached fiber threads of synthetic polypropylene. Each strand allows multiple surface contact points to entrap oil.
An assortment of oil sorbent products
Synthetic material socks, pillows, pads, booms, and mesh bag sorbents for oil

What Makes A Good Sorbent?

When choosing a sorbent for oil spill cleanup, there are several factors to consider. Each of the different sorbent materials and types outlined above have benefits as well as drawbacks. So, here are a few things to think about:

Sorption Rate

A good sorbent will have a high rate of absorption and adsorption. Although, the viscosity of oil affects sorption performance. So, be aware of which type of oil you are dealing with.

For example, the rate of absorption is faster for lighter hydrocarbons like gasoline. Whereas loose fiber adsorbents work more quickly and effectively on viscous, heavy fuel oil. Because their synthetic fibers provide a large surface area.

Capacity

Each sorbent type has its own sorption capacity, or saturation point (when it is unable to adsorb or absorb any more oil). Sorbents should be removed or replaced from a spill once they become fully saturated.

Synthetic products tend to have a higher capacity per weight ratio than natural sorbents. It is easier to see when a pad or mat is “full” compared to enclosed sorbents like pillows and socks.

Oil Retention

Good oil retention means a sorbent won’t drip or leak once it reaches saturation. But, the weight of recovered oil can sometime stress and deform a sorbents’ structure.

For example, when a sorbent boom is lifted out of the water it can release oil due to pressure on itself. This is an issue because any oil that is not retained can cause secondary contamination.

Application Site

Spills on water require different sorbents to spills on land. However, the size of the spill and the oil’s viscosity matters, too.

Sorbent pads are effective at removing oily sheen from the water’s surface. Likewise, they can be just as effective for small spills on land.

But, bigger spills demand more sorbent and larger surface area. In which case bulk sorbent materials can be a good solution for spills on land, but not in water. Sorbent booms are a better choice for water applications. Due to their oleophilic and hydrophobic properties.

Ease of Use

It’s important for sorbents to be both easy to handle and retrieve. Therefore, synthetic sorbents are often more efficient to use than organic or inorganic materials.

Enclosed sorbents, like booms, are a great choice for spills that occur at sea. Since they are buoyant and float, they won’t absorb water and therefore sink. Making them easier to remove from the water once saturated.

When it comes to small spills on land, bulk loose absorbent materials can work well. Organic or inorganic granules will efficiently spread over oil on an uneven ground surface. Yet they can be messy to collect and dispose of.

Cost Effectiveness

Loose material natural sorbents are often low-cost and readily available as manufacturing by-products. However, you’ll likely need to use more product as a trade-off. Along with the fact they can be messy to work with. Additionally, some bulk materials (like sawdust) will adsorb water along with oil. Meaning they are not suitable for hydrocarbon spills in marine locations.

Conversely, synthetic sorbents can carry a higher price tag. Yet they are typically the most effective sorbent for absorption of oil. Especially as they have oleophilic and hydrophobic properties as well.

To avoid wastage, and minimize cost, use sorbents to capacity before discarding them. Pads and rolls can be cut to size to eliminate waste. Or consider a form of sorbent that is reusable. For instance, a handwringer can recover oil from socks or loose fiber sorbents meaning they can be reused again.

Storage

Many sorbents—like pillows, socks, and loose granular materials—can be bulky or heavy to store. Additionally, sorbents usually need to be kept in a controlled environment. In order to prevent things like moisture, UV, and pest (rodent or insect) damage.

These factors may be problematic for smaller facilities lacking sufficient storage space.

Disposal

Oil absorbents can be harmful if not disposed of properly. Because oil leach from used sorbents is a source of secondary environmental contamination.

The two most common ways to get rid of used oil-absorbents are incineration and landfill. Biodegradation is another alternative for some organic oil adsorbents like peat moss. Although the material degradation process can take several years.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe disposal of used sorbents. Along with local, state and federal regulations, including the EPA’s hazardous waste requirements.

Conclusion

When used correctly, sorbent materials are an effective way of dealing with oil spill cleanups. However, it’s important to know the advantages and disadvantages between each type of sorbent.

The main thing to remember is to choose a sorbent that works well for your specific situation. This means finding the right balance between things like cost, effectiveness, and ease of deployment.

If you need help deciding which form of oil sorbent your facility needs, contact AbsorbentsOnline.com today!

What Are The Disadvantages Of Booms For Oil Spills?

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Oil spills are a serious problem because they can cause harm to humans, animals, plants, and—when they happen in coastal areas—marine life.

Though booms are widely used to contain offshore oil spills, they are not always effective. There are some disadvantages to using oil containment booms.

This guide will explore everything you need to know about booms, including their cons. Starting with a brief introduction into what exactly an oil spill containment boom is and what they are used for.

Boom for oil spills protecting a port terminal

What Are Spill Booms?

A boom is a buoyant, fence-like piece of equipment that is used as a floating barrier for oil spill response and clean up.

It is designed to be placed on top of the water to keep an oil spill in one place. This prevents the hydrocarbons from spreading and contaminating ecologically sensitive areas like estuaries and coastlines.

Spill containment booms come in various sizes and shapes, including sorbent booms which soak up the spilled oil. The kind you use will depend on the amount of oil that has been spilled and the location.

Explore our previous posts What Are Booms for Oil Spills to learn more about the different types, and How Oil Booms Work.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Oil Containment Booms?

Though they are widely used as an emergency response tool, there are some disadvantages to utilizing containment booms to manage oil spills.

These include:

  • Booms are expensive: you may have to spend thousands of dollars on a single boom. The larger the boom, the more expensive it will be. The style you choose is a big factor in its cost; inflatable booms usually carry a higher price tag than foam-core fence booms, for example.
  • They only contain the oil: conventional booms act like a floating barrier and do not remove oil from the environment. Instead, they keep oil slicks confined to a certain area. It is necessary to use specialty equipment like skimmers and absorbents to remove the spilled oil. Or, dispersants that help break the spilled oil down into smaller droplets.
  • The boom can be difficult to deploy: they require training to properly deploy, which may limit their usefulness. It may also be necessary to tow the boom into open water and anchor it to some kind of mooring. Rough seas can make these tasks difficult and also put the safety of spill clean up responders at risk.
  • They are reliant on water conditions: booms perform most effectively in calm waters. When a body of water is too rough, the boom won’t work well. That’s because strong winds and wave action can allow oil to wash over the top of the boom, thus making it ineffective.
  • Cleaning and storage can be problematic: solid-core foam floats provide good buoyancy for booms, however, can also be bulky. And thus, need a lot of storage space when the boom is not in use. Likewise, although polyurethane or PVC construction materials are typically easy to clean, the awkward shape of solid floatation booms can make this more difficult.

Other Options for Oil Spill Cleanup on Water

If you don’t like the sound of containment booms, fear not. There are other methods that can be used for oil spill containment and clean up. However, they are typically done in conjunction with oil containment booms. Therefore, they are not effective enough to be used as alternatives alone.

One method is to use skimmers. This equipment “skims” the oil layer off the top of the surface of the water. Then the collected liquid can be transported away from the spill site in tanks or drums.

Dispersants are another option that uses chemicals to break down the oil. The released chemicals help break an oil slick apart into smaller droplets, which then mix more easily into the water column. Although, this method is far from ideal because even small oil particles are harmful to marine life and the environment.

Another technique is in-situ burning, which involves using fire to burn off the oil. However, this method is dangerous because it releases toxic fumes into the air. Consequently, nearby communities can suffer. In addition, in-situ burning has been proven to not be overly effective, especially in particularly cold waters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do Oil Spills Happen?

Oil spills are a common occurrence around the globe. Their causes are varied but often happen due to human error or natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes.

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill is one of the most infamous. It was caused by a natural gas explosion and resulted in a massive crude oil leakage into the Gulf of Mexico.

Spills can also occur in factories and industrial workplaces where crude oil is transported or stored. For example, when something goes wrong with an oil well. There are many reasons why oil wells go bad. Such as faulty machinery or improper maintenance. If this happens, oil begins to leak into the surrounding soil and water.

The impacts of these accidents can range from minor inconveniences to major environmental damage. Regardless of what caused the problem, all oil spills are dangerous.

Why Is Oil So Bad For The Environment?

When even a small amount of oil gets into the ocean, it causes problems for both human beings and marine life. It can harm plants, animals, and even humans who eat seafood. It can also destroy habitats where marine life lives.

Oil and water do not mix; sea life will be suffocated, ingest, or otherwise contaminated by the oil, causing death.

This is why it is essential to contain the spillage as much as possible, thus preventing it from spreading any further.

What Are The Different Types Of Oil Booms?

There are different shapes, sizes and types of booms available for dealing with an oil spill. However, all designs include common features like an above-water freeboard, below-water skirt, flotation devices, and support chain connectors.

Among the various options available are:

  1. Inflatable: Inflatable booms are made of durable materials like PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or polyurethane-coated fabric. They are designed to be inflated quickly and easily. Once inflated, they expand outward, creating a barrier between the oil and the sea.
  2. Solid flotation: These booms are often made with a solid polyethylene foam core for good buoyancy. They are designed to stay afloat for long periods. They do this by using air pockets inside their structure.
  3. Self-inflating: Self-inflating booms are similar to inflatable ones. However, they will inflate themselves (as you may have guessed from the name).
  4. Absorbent: oil absorbent booms do as the name suggest and soak up hydrocarbons but not water itself. They are mainly suitable for smaller oil slick spill cleanup, like from a boat leakage in a marina. You can also use conventional and sorbent booms together.

Knowing how to choose the right boom that best suits your needs depends on water conditions. For, example if the spill is in calm waters like an estuary versus open waters that are subject to rough wave action.

What Are The Advantages Of Booms?

Even though oil containment booms have a few disadvantages outlined above, they are generally quite successful.

In fact, they are so widely used because of these numerous advantages. Among the benefits of these products are:

  • They reduce the risk of further pollution: since booms help keep oil in one place, you don’t have to worry about spreading the contamination. This allows other devices like vacuums, skimmers, and absorbents to be used to recover the oil.
  • They protect wildlife: booms help prevent animals from being harmed by an oil spill. This means that they are useful for protecting marine life. In addition, they allow fish and other aquatic creatures to be saved from oil that might have spread.
  • They provide protection for humans: they help prevent people from getting hurt by the oil. They also make sure that the oil doesn’t damage any property.
  • They are easy to transport: since they are lightweight, they are easier to move around than other types of equipment.
  • They are buoyant: when deployed correctly, they float on the surface of the water. This makes them very easy to handle. Plus, it means that they are ideal for use when the water has been spilled in a body of water.

Final Thoughts

After weighing up the various pros and cons, the advantages of using booms show they are still the best way to deal with oil spills.

Though there are some disadvantages that you should be aware of, booming remains one of the most effective techniques for oil spill response on water.