Apparatus & method for in situ burning of oil spills

• Main Author: BREITENBECK GARY A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 17.04.2003
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FOUNDATIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; METALLURGY; SOIL SHIFTING; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE

A method for in-situ burning of oil slicks on water, including the steps of 1) providing a plurality of individual floating wicks; 2) positioning the wicks in the oil slick; and 3) igniting the wicks. Additionally, a method for manufacturing floating wicks for use in burning oil spills, including the steps of 1) providing a wick material having a dry density less than water; 2) applying to the wick material an oleophilic, hydrophobic coating such that the coated wick material has an oil uptake capacity of at least 2 g/g and a water uptake capacity of no greater than 5 g/g; and 3) drying the wick material.