OIL POLLUTION & CONTROL PEE5317

• SEPARATION & DISPOSAL

• TREATING AGENTS
• IN SITU BURNING
STORAGE OF SPILLED OIL

Types of storage tanks

1. Flexible portable tanks
• often constructed of plastic sheeting and a frame
• used for spills recovered on land, rivers and lakes
• available in 1 to 100 m3
• Require little storage space before assembly
• Most do not have a roof

2. Rigid tanks
• constructed of metal,
• less common than flexible tanks
STORAGE OF SPILLED OIL

3. Pillow tanks
• constructed of polymers and heavy fabrics

• Mostly for storing oil recovered on land

• placed on a solid platform so that rocks cannot

puncture the tank when full

• sometimes used on the decks of barges and ships to

hold oil recovered at sea
STORAGE OF SPILLED OIL

4. Towable, flexible tanks

usually bullet-shaped
• used to contain oil recovered at sea
• constructed of polymers, with fabric
materials
4. Barges – for oil recovered at sea for larger spills
5. Pits & berms lined with polymer sheets -
temporarily storage in land, rivers
6. Drums, small tanks, livestock watering tanks, and
bags – used for small spills
SEPARATION OF SPILLED OIL
1. GRAVITY SEPARATOR
• the most common type of separator

• consists of a large holding tank in which the

oil and water mixture is separated under
gravity when residence time (varies from
minutes to hours) is reached.

• often contain baffles that increase the

residence time and thus the degree of
separation.
SEPARATION OF SPILLED OIL
2. Centrifugal separators
• have spinning members that drive the heavier
water from the lighter oil, which collects at the
centre of the vessel.

• Very efficient but have less capacity than

gravity separators and cannot handle large debris

• Sometimes used in tandem with gravity

separators to provide an optimal system
DISPOSAL OF SPILLED OIL
1. Incineration
• Combustion of spilled oil (plus debris etc) in
special facilities
• It is expensive due to transportation cost
• Emission is regulated

2. Landfill
• Oiled debris, beach material, and sorbents
are sometimes disposed of
• Most regulations do not allow oil as it
can contaminated ground water
• Oil can be stabilized before landfilling
DISPOSAL OF SPILLED OIL
3. Stabilization processes - Converting oil to a form that
would not contaminate soil or groundwater
i. Application of quick lime (calcium oxide) to form a
cement- like material, which can be used on roads as a
dust-inhibitor.
ii. Microbial breakdown - to process liquid oil in a bioreactor
and thus attempt to break it down
• This has a challenge of the many slowly degraded components
in some oils.
4. Land-farming - the application of oil to land
where it degrades naturally
• No more practiced in many countries due to resistance
of some components to degradation and secondary
pollution
5. Others include:
• In-situ burning, Usage as road cover.
 SPILL-TREATING AGENTS
Treatment agents are special chemicals used in cleaning
up or removing oil.
• Some are hazardous to the environment, therefore,
need for permission before use.

Types of treating agents are:

i. Dispersants
ii. Surface-washing Agents
iii. Emulsion Breakers and Inhibitors
iv. Recovery Enhancers
v. Solidifiers
vi. Sinking Agents
vii. Biodegradation Agents
 SPILL-TREATING AGENTS
DISPERSANT

• DISPERSANT is a common term used to label chemical

spill-treating agents that promote the formation of
small droplets of oil that spread throughout the top
layer of the water column.

• Dispersants contain surfactants (detergents-like

material containing water-soluble and oil-soluble
component) causing oil to disperse in water
 SPILL-TREATING AGENTS
• 2 major issues are associated with dispersants

Effectiveness
Toxicity and

• Effectiveness of dispersant is a measure of oil

dispersed.
• Dispersants are relatively not very effective

• Effectiveness of dispersants affected by:

• composition and degree of weathering of the oil
(most important)
• amount and type of dispersant applied
• sea energy
• salinity of the water
 SPILL-TREATING AGENTS
• When a dispersant is working, a white to coffee-coloured
plume of dispersed oil appears in the water column
• No plume it indicates little or no effectiveness.
• Dispersion is not likely to occur when oil has spread to
thin sheens
• Oil containing more saturated materials e.g. diesel
encourages dispersion

• Constituents e.g. aromatics, waxes, Bunker oil etc.

do not encourage dispersion

• Optimum volumetric ratio of dispersant to oil is 1:10 (or

10%)
• The relationship between sea energy and dispersant
effectiveness varies with oil type, but in general,
dispersants work better in high sea energy conditions.

Dispersant Effectiveness
At Low Sea At High Sea
Energy Energy
Oil (Percent of Oil in the Water
Column)

Diesel 60 95
Light crude 40 90
Medium crude 10 70
IFO 180 5 10
Bunker C 1 1
 SPILL-TREATING AGENTS
Application of Dispersants
• Dispersants are applied either “neat” (undiluted) or
diluted in sea water.

• Aerial spraying with aircraft/helicopters, the most

popular application method.

• Spray systems are available for boats used for small

spills.

• Dispersants must always be applied with a system

designed specifically for the purpose.
 SPILL-TREATING AGENTS
Toxicity of Dispersants
• Dispersants are generally toxic.

• 1960s and 70s are more toxic than now

• Lethal concentration to 50% of organisms, LC50 given in mg/l
(ppm) with associated hr – 96 hr for big animals (fish)

• The lower the LC50 number in mg/l the more the toxicity
• 1960s to 70s dispersants have LC50 of 5 to 50mg/l

• Present dispersants have LC50 of 200 to 500 mg/l

• Diesel & Light crude, LC50 is 20 to 50mg/l

• Toxicity does not increase after dispersant application

except in shallow waters.

• Requires permission after effectivity and toxicity test

 SPILL-TREATING AGENTS
SURFACE-WASHING AGENTS
• Surface-washing agents or beach cleaners are different from
dispersants, although both products are sometimes referred to
as “dispersants.”

• Applied to shorelines or structures to release the oil from the

Surface.

• Surface-washing agents are effective in some situations, but

they have not been widely accepted.

• They contain surfactants too but more water soluble than oil
soluble - detergency
• A good washing agent is a poor dispersant.

• Sprayed, allowed to soak for some time, then washed.

• Area is isolated using booms and toxicity is very low
• Removes 90 – 95% oil from surfaces.
 SPILL-TREATING AGENTS
Emulsion Breakers and Inhibitors
• Emulsion breakers and inhibitors are agents used to cause
water-in-oil emulsions to revert to oil and water or to
prevent the formation of emulsion.
Two types:
• Closed system – requiring little water (contains
water soluble surfactants)
• Open systems – more water (contains insoluble
polymers)

• Effectiveness is based on minimum dose required to

break emulsion or prevents emulsion formation.

• 1:800 is better than 1:100 i.e. agent : oil ratio

• Toxicity same as dispersants – LC50 of 10,000mg/l

better than LC50 of 75 mg/l
• Permission required
 SPILL-TREATING AGENTS
Recovery Enhancers
• Recovery enhancers, or visco-elastic agents, are
formulations intended to improve the recovery
efficiency of oil spill skimmers or suction devices by
increasing the adhesiveness of oil.

• Can increase the recovery rate of sorbent surface

skimmers for products like diesel fuel by up to ten
times

Sinking Agents
• Sinking agents are materials, usually minerals, that
absorbs oil in water and then sinks to the bottom

• Banned due to environmental issues

 SPILL-TREATING AGENTS

Solidifiers

• Also called gelling agents or collecting agents

• Solidifiers change liquid oil to a solid
compound(Polymerization) that can be collected from the
water surface with nets or mechanical means.

• Opposite of dispersants

• Problems are:
• Difficulties of collection of solids by pumps
• So Much agent required.
• An initial solidified area prevents solidification of
other parts of oil
 SPILL-TREATING AGENTS
Biodegradation Agents
• Accelerate the biodegradation of oil
• Used primarily on shorelines or land
• Native bacterial and fungi (near seeps etc) better
• Favors light & saturated H/C - 12 – 20 c atoms e.g.
Diesel
• Aromatics & asphaltics degraded slowly
• Bio-enhancement agents - contain fertilizers or other
materials to enhance the activity of h/c-degrading
organisms
• Bio-enhancement:
• Removes up to 40% oil in 1 – 12 months
• Most effective at oil:N:P of 100:10:1
Bioaugmentation agents - contain microbes to degrade
oil
•Bio-augmentation: Not as common as bio-enhacement bc
foreign organisms used
 IN-SITU BURNING
(CONTROL BURNING)
INTRODUCTION
• In-situ burning is a clean-up method for oil spills that
involves the controlled burning of the spilled oil.

• It offers the advantage of rapidly removing large

amounts of oil over a wide area, making it a valuable
technique for oil spill response.

• Research on in-situ burning dates back to the 1970s,

and it has been employed at actual spill sites, especially
in icy waters where the ice contains the oil.
• Some Incidents in history in which control burning was
used:
Exxon Valdez oil spill (1989).
Deepwater horizon oil spill (2010).
Torrey canyon of great Britain in 1967.
 IGNITION
• In-situ burning of oil on water or land requires a slick
thickness of 2-3mm to insulate the oil and sustain
combustion.
• Thicker slicks are more likely to ignite and burn successfully.
Ignition can be challenging under high winds.

• Heavy and weathered oils ignite less easily than lighter oils,
and oil containing water or emulsions may require chemical
emulsion breakers to facilitate ignition.

• Burning thin oil slicks on shorelines may not be practical due

to wet substrata and environmental considerations.

• Various ignition devices include: Helitorches, Flare guns,

burning gels or soaked materials and military bombs etc.
NEED FOR CONTAINMENT.
(Fire-resistant booms)
 Containment ensures safe and effective in-situ burning of
spilled oil.

 Containment booms are essential to gather and thicken

the oil. Thick oil slicks (about 2-3 mm) burn effectively.

 Booms also isolate the spilled oil from the source. (e.g., An
oil tanker) to prevent fire risks.
 In-situ burning using conventional booms
(BURNINGTONGUE)

• Fire-resistant booms are more challenging to deploy

than conventional booms because of their weight and
complexity.

• The heat from multiple burns can still eventually

destroy the boom.

 "Burning Tongue," The idea is to contained oil using

conventional boom. When the boom reaches its oil-
holding capacity, or is nearly filled, a gate located at
the apex of the boom is opened.

 This results in the creation of a concentrated flow of

thick, combustible oil.
 As soon as this stream exits the boom, it is promptly
ignited using gelled gasoline. Within a matter of
seconds, the oil stream becomes fully engulfed in
flames.

 This ignition process initiates a sustained burn,

thanks to the convective winds generated by the
chimney effect of the fire.

 This ensures that the oil maintains its thickness

throughout the burning process, making the "Burning
Tongue" a unique and effective approach for
managing oil spills at sea
BURN EFFICIENCY

Burning efficiency is a measure of how effectively the

process removes oil compared to the amount of residue
left behind.
• The efficiency of the burn is largely determined by the
thickness of the oil.

• Thicker oil layers (typically over 2 to 3 mm) can be

ignited and will burn down to thinner layers (around 1 to
2 mm).

• For example, if a 2-mm thick oil slick is ignited and burns

down to 1 mm, the maximum burn efficiency achieved is
50%. However, if a thicker pool of oil (e.g., 20 mm) is
ignited and burns down to 1 mm, the burn efficiency can
be as high as about 95%.
 BURNING RATE
• Most oil pools burn at a rate of approximately 3 to 4
mm per minute.

• The burn rate remains relatively consistent regardless

of factors such as the type of oil, its degree of
weathering, or its water content.

• The standard burn rate is about 5000 liters (or 100

gallons) of oil per square meter per day.

• This rapid burn rate allows for the removal of

substantial quantities of oil in a short period, making
in-situ oil burning an efficient clean-up technique for
large oil spills.
• Residue: the residue left after the burning process
primarily consists of unburned oil, along with some
lighter or more volatile products that have been
removed.

• This residue is adhesive in nature and can be manually

recovered.

• Sinkage of residue: in some cases, residue from

burning heavier oils or very efficient burns may sink in
water.

• This is a relatively rare occurrence, as the residue is

only slightly denser than seawater.
EMISSIONS CONCERN

These emissions include particulate matter from the

smoke plume, combustion gases, unburned
hydrocarbons, and residues.

• Particulate matter, particularly smaller particles, is a

health concern near the fire but decreases rapidly
downwind.

• Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are generally not

a serious health concern as they burn at a similar rate
as other oil components
Other compounds produced by burning are generally not
of serious concern to human health or the environment.
Gaseous emissions typically include:

• carbon dioxide, small amounts of carbon monoxide,

sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds
(vocs) like benzene and toluene.

• The emissions of these compounds are usually at

low concentrations, especially at greater distances
from the fire.

• Soot production from in-situ oil fires varies but is

estimated to range from 0.5% to 3% of the original
oil volume.

• Metal content in emissions is a concern close to the

fire but negligible farther away.
Advantages of Burning Oil as a Clean- up Technique:

• Rapid Oil Removal: Burning is highly effective at

quickly eliminating large quantities of spilled oil,
especially when applied early in the spill before the oil
weathers and loses its flammability. This can prevent
further oil spreading and contamination of shorelines
and ecosystems.

• One-Step Solution: Burning offers a single-step

solution, eliminating the need for transporting, storing,
and disposing of recovered oil. This saves resources,
time, and costs associated with mechanical recovery
methods.
• Minimal Equipment and Labour: Burning requires
less equipment and labour compared to other clean-
up techniques. It can be applied in remote areas
where infrastructure is lacking, making it a viable
option in certain circumstances.

• High Efficiency: In ideal conditions, burning can

achieve removal efficiencies greater than other
response methods like skimming and chemical
dispersants. Efficiency rates of up to 99% have
been achieved in some tests.

• Minimal Residue: In-situ burning generates a

relatively small amount of burn residue, which can
either be recovered or further reduced through
repeated burns.
Disadvantages of Burning Oil as a Clean- up Technique:
• Toxic emissions: burning oil produces a large black
smoke plume, raising concerns about toxic emissions into
the atmosphere. The potential environmental and health
impacts of these emissions are a significant drawback.

• Thickness requirement: oil must be sufficiently thick to

ignite and burn effectively. Most spilled oils spread
rapidly on water, making it challenging to maintain the
necessary thickness for burning.

• Perception: burning oil may not be viewed as an

appealing alternative to collecting and processing it for
reuse. However, reprocessing facilities are often not
readily available in many regions, discouraging oil reuse.