High Speed Separation of Oil From Water

Environmentalists encourage the ready access of some advanced oil spill cleanup methods.

In times of oil spill emergencies, separating crude oil from water at a fast pace is urgent for the welfare of the environment. Certain methods have long been used for oil spill cleanup efforts, as in the 2010 disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Oil burning

Containment booms, or floating barriers placed in water to contain oil during spills, allow for controlled burning of crude oil. Booms also help prevent crude oil from reaching shorelines. Burning oil is a fast and generally effective way of controlling the spread of oil in ocean waters. Although birds are more likely to escape toxic fumes created by oil burning than from getting stuck in oil spill, toxic fumes can still be dangerous to wildlife.

Dispersant

Dispersant is a chemical used to separate large amounts of crude oil into smaller particles. This method allows oceanic bacteria to consume the dispersed oil. Some environmentalists, however, argue that excessive use of dispersant can have negative long-term effects on the environment, particularly marine life.

Oil skimmers

Oil skimmers vacuum oil from the contaminated sea. This separation of oil from water then returns clean water to the sea. High-speed skimmers, such as "the whale" which helped in clean-up efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, can process up to 21 million gallons of contaminated waters per day, according to the BBC.

References

• The Independent: Gulf of Mexico oil cleanup by the numbers
• The Guardian: BP oil spill, Kevin Costner's oil-water separation machines help with clean-up
• BBC: Giant Skimmer "A Whale" Tested At BP Oil Spill Site
• BBC: Dispersant Used in Gulf 'No More Toxic' Than Oil Alone
• MSNBC: BP Dispersant Mix Less Toxic Than Oil, EPA Study Finds
• BBC: US Considers Setting Fire to Gulf of Mexico Oil Leak

Resources

• Ocean Therapy Solutions