Polystyrene Microfiber Sorbent for Oil Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning up oil spills, such as using nonwoven polypropylene fibrous mats and polystyrene microfiber absorbent materials, result in further environmental pollution as the oil-drenched materials become pollutants themselves after use.
Innovation Solution
A method involving polystyrene-based sorbents, specifically polystyrene microfibers with high sorption capacity, is used to absorb oil spills, followed by dissolving the oil-drenched sorbents in a petroleum-based solvent like gasoline, creating a solution suitable as a feedstock for refineries, thereby avoiding additional pollution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If nonwoven polypropylene fibrous mats are used to clean up oil spills, then the oil spill is absorbed, but the oil-drenched mats become further pollutants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the absorbent material from polypropylene to polystyrene, which has different solubility properties. Polystyrene can be dissolved in petroleum-based solvents like gasoline, whereas polypropylene cannot. This parameter change transforms the waste management approach from disposal to recycling, eliminating the pollution problem while maintaining oil absorption capacity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the oil-drenched absorbent material as waste, the patent recovers both the oil and the polystyrene material by dissolving the latter in petroleum-based solvents. The resulting solution containing dissolved polystyrene and oil is then fed to refineries for further processing, thereby recovering valuable materials and eliminating waste pollution
2Quantity of substance
If polystyrene microfiber absorbent material is used to clean up oil spills, then the oil spill is absorbed, but the oil-drenched material constitutes further pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the solubility parameter of polystyrene in petroleum-based solvents to transform the waste problem. By selecting solvents like gasoline in which polystyrene is soluble, the patent enables the dissolved absorbent material to be fed to refineries, converting waste into a useful feedstock and eliminating pollution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces petroleum-based solvents as an intermediary substance that facilitates the transformation of oil-drenched polystyrene from a harmful waste product into a useful refinery feedstock. The solvent acts as a medium that dissolves both the polystyrene and oil, creating a homogeneous solution suitable for refinery processing
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively cleans up oil spills and processes the recovered oil into useful petroleum products, minimizing environmental impact by eliminating the generation of further pollutants and utilizing recycled materials.
Implementation Method 1
providing a polystyrene-based sorbent; drenching the polystyrene-based sorbent in the oil to be treated
Implementation Method 2
dissolving the oil drenched polystyrene-based sorbent in a petroleum-based solvent in which both the oil drenched polystyrene-based sorbent and the oil is soluble, thereby forming a solution comprising the petroleum-based solvent having dissolved therein the polystyrene-based sorbent and the oil
Data Source
AI summary
A method for treating an oil spill includes providing a polystyrene-based sorbent in the form of polystyrene microfibers having a sorption capacity in the range of between 30 g/g to 217 g/g, measured as grams of oil sorbed per one gram of the sorbent; drenching the polystyrene microfibers in the oil spill to be treated; collecting the oil drenched polystyrene microfibers; and removing excess oil from the oil drenched polystyrene microfibers by compressing the microfibers. The method further includes dissolving the oil drenched polystyrene microfibers in a petroleum-based solvent in the form of gasoline having an octane number of ninety one, in which both the oil drenched polystyrene microfibers and the oil is soluble, thereby forming a solution comprising the gasoline having dissolved therein the polystyrene microfibers and the oil; and utilizing the solution as a feedstock for feeding a refinery.