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OIL BLANKETS
An oil blanket can be installed in the surf along beaches and shorelines. They absorb oil spills before they can make it to land. The blankets are also made out of Ultra-X-Tex material to quickly remove oil and other hydrocarbons. They are designed to tumble in the surf and remove any oil from the water as it passes by and through the filtering fabric. The material is capable of pulling out emulsified (liquid that is suspended in another liquid) oils, which are created in the pounding surf as well as from dispersants used on the oil slicks offshore (14).
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SPILL FENCES
These fences capture oil on the surface of the water. Unlike many other floating devices,
the Ultra-X-Tex fencing material will also capture sub-surface oil. Tidal water can flow through the fabric while it absorbs the oil that passes through. There is a wire backing that provides additional support and strength as the tide pushes the fence back and forth (18).
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MICROBES
Because oil is a natural product comprised of decayed plants and animals, it’s similar to what bacteria are already accustomed to consuming. In essence, the bacteria break down the ring structures of the hydrocarbons in seaborne oil using enzymes and oxygen in the water. The result is ancient oil that is turned into bacterial biomass. Because oil is low in nutrients such as nitrogen, that can inhibit how fast the bacteria grow and how quickly they are able to break the oil down. Some bacteria are able to solve this problem on their own by getting their own
nitrogen from the air. Microbial degradation is quickest when the oil is in very small droplets (10).
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MICROBE BOOMS
Microbe booms are made from specially-treated polyethylene foam to allow them to float on the water’s surface while also absorbing oil. Six microbe tablets are inserted into the foam sleeves, and the extended water contact causes the tablets to dissolve slowly, releasing the microbes into the water. The booms can either be dropped in or tied off in catch basins. This method combines the oil filter boom solution with the microbe solution (13).
Oil Spills / 2014 9
In the midst of past events, many out-there ideas have been proposed to clean up oil spills. Some of these ideas include oil corrals, berms, garbage, nuclear bombs, and fires (1). We'll take a look at some less extreme and less dangerous options to stop and clean up oil spills in the future.
MICROBE BOOMS
OIL BLANKETS