A method of recovering crude oil from crude oil drenched adsorbent and simultaneously regenerating the adsorbent to render it suitable for re-use in crude oil adsorption. The method includes contacting crude oil drenched adsorbent, in the form of solid nanofibrous expanded polystyrene drenched with adsorbed crude oil, with a non-polar solvent, thereby obtaining regenerated crude oil lean adsorbent and crude oil rich solvent.

Pelagic Sargasso nowadays is an inopportune event that invades beaches. This method has many aspects in consideration to successfully grow Sargasso in huge amounts in a designated area. It also discloses many Sargasso Nursery Structures that adapt to different areas and purposes. This method also discloses where and how to set the nurseries in a way that the Sargasso mass can be used or delivered avoiding heavy costs of shipping.

A sorbent boom has a bundle having one or more sheets of folded and spun adsorbent material inside of exterior netting surrounding the bundle. The exterior netting secures a rope and has clamped ends with rings and clips so as to permit securing one segment of the sorbent boom to another segment or to another sorbent boom.

An apparatus and method for capturing a contaminant present in a body of water that includes a collection media for capturing the contaminant and a structure. The collection media has a first end secured to the structure. The collection media has a second buoyant end disposed opposite the first end wherein buoyant end is a free end. The structure does not float at the water surface and holds the first end of the collection media below the buoyant second end in the water column. When the apparatus is deployed in a water column having a depth greater than the height of the apparatus, the apparatus is selectively positioned in the water column at a desired height. A method of employing the collection media is also disclosed.

Solar thermal devices are formed from a block of wood, where the natural cell lumens of the wood form an interconnected network that transports fluid or material therein. The block of wood can be modified to increase absorption of solar radiation. Combining the solar absorption effects with the natural transport network can be used for various applications. In some embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to evaporate a fluid, for example, evaporating water for extraction, distillation, or desalination. In other embodiments, heating of the modified block of wood by insolation can be used to change transport properties of a material to allow it to be transported in the interconnected network, for example, heating crude oil to adsorb the oil within the block of wood.

Embodiments of a floating oil absorption apparatus of the present invention generally include a container having one or more orifices in at least one exterior surface thereof and an oil-absorbent material, wherein the container, with the oil-absorbent material disposed therein, floats in water such that the water can flow into and out of the container, thereby coming into contact with the oil-absorbent material. Methods of using embodiments of the floating oil absorption apparatus are provided.

A method for removing oil from a body of water including providing a matrix having a longitudinally-directed column defined by oil-absorbing and/or oil-adsorbing blankets each affixed independently of each other to a connecting strip that extends along the length of the column; deploying the matrix to a body of water to bring the column into contact with the body of water; inducing tension in the connecting strip to move blankets of the column in unison relative to the body of water; collecting oil with the first and second blankets; and removing the blankets and at least a portion of the oil collected thereby. Also, an oil spill removal system including such a matrix and in which, during matrix movement in the longitudinal direction, drag on a following blanket of a matrix column is carried by the connecting strip rather than by a preceding blanket of that column.

An aquatic containment material and method of using the same for containing a contaminant in a body of water. The containment material includes a deflection layer permeable to water and with low permeability to the contaminant. A containment layer is connected with the deflection layer and is also permeable to water and with low permeability to the contaminant. The containment material has tensile strength, permittivity to water, and rigidity selected to maintain a vertical position or other selected shape at an expected flow rate across the containment material in a body of water in which the containment material is designed to be used for a given application.

A floating weir skimmer comprises a collecting box (10), a weir plate (11) and an inner buoy (5). Said collecting box (10) comprises a baffle plate (3) and a trough (1). A guide rail (6) is arranged inside said trough (1). An inner buoy (5) is arranged inside collecting box (10), and a guide pulley (14) is arranged on said inner buoy (5), enabling said inner buoy (5) to slide on said guide rail (6). A supporting member is further arranged on said inner buoy (5). One end of said weir plate (11) is carried by said supporting member, and the other end is in rotation connection with said trough (1).

A remediation pad that includes a layer of an open cell foam material defining opposing major surfaces and a reinforcing layer that is disposed adjacent one of the major surfaces. Some embodiments include a second layer of open cell foam material disposed adjacent the reinforcing layer opposite the first layer. The reinforcing layer may take the form of a mesh or film layer and can be substantially coextensive with the major surfaces it abuts. A plurality of fastening structures can be disposed on opposite ends of the pad whereby a plurality of the pads can be connected end-to-end to form an endless loop. The fastening structures may take the form of a hook and loop fasteners. A method of employing such pads when they form an endless loop is also disclosed.