A granular litter cleaning apparatus comprises a separation system having a separation tank adapted to receive a mixture of granules and plastic litter, and water therein, the separation tank having a top opening, and a closeable bottom outlet, and at least one water inlet for feeding water to the separation tank. A collect subsystem is for conveying a mixture of granules and plastic litter to the separation tank. A pump system is in fluid communication with the water inlet. The pump system is operated to raise a level of water in the separation tank to skim water with plastic litter out through the top opening of the separation tank. The closeable bottom outlet is openable to empty the separation tank from granules decanted in a bottom of the separation tank. A process for separating plastic litter from granules is also provided.

A squid-type marine oil containment device includes a track and four oil containment booms. A robotic arm is provided in an elliptic area formed by the track. Sliders are provided on the track. Ends of oil containment booms slide along the track through sliders. Each oil containment boom includes an oil suction pipe, propellers and a plastic separating layer. A middle of the oil suction pipe forms an oil channel. Booster pumps are spacedly provided inside the oil suction pipe and are respectively connected to a hose. Pairs of propellers are spacedly provided at a lower end of the oil suction pipe. Oil suction holes are provided on the oil suction pipe. The plastic separating layer is provided under the oil suction holes. A counterweight is provided at a bottom of the oil containment boom. The invention further provides a method of containing oil using the device.

A transportable modular system for emergency treatment of water polluted by liquid hydrocarbon spillage comprises: at least a first containerized treatment module, comprising a container in the form of a standard size intermodal container which houses a coalescence separator device, configured to operate an oil/water separation; a suction pipe having a first end connected to the coalescence separator device and a second end provided with an inlet connected to at least one floating skimmer; a pump positioned on the suction pipe; a water drain pipe and an oil drain pipe, connected to a water outlet and an oil outlet, respectively, of the coalescence separator device.

Oil and aqueous phase separator device comprising: a basket that comprises a frame having a plurality of supporting arms and fitting means for linking to other phase separator devices; a top lid of the basket; a hydrophobic mesh linked to the basket and supported by the plurality of supporting arms; a plurality of floats linked to the frame of the basket; a housing for an additional float formed on the upper edge of the frame of the basket; and discharging means linked to the basket.

A waste collection device (10) comprising a receptacle (12) having an opening (24) in an upper end and a tubular member (28) mounted for sliding movement within the opening (24). A pump is provided for pumping water outwardly from within the receptacle (12) and a basket is provided within the tubular member (28). The tubular member (28) comprises a cylindrical inner wall (32) and a cylindrical outer wall (33) connected at upper and lower ends thereof to define an annular chamber (36) to provide buoyancy to the tubular member (28).

An apparatus and a method for aggregate collection from a water body are provided. The apparatus includes a floatable structure which includes a body having a substantially spherical surface and a storage space within the body. The floatable structure further includes an opening that forms a passage to the storage space. The apparatus further includes a control assembly coupled to the body. The control assembly controls a collection of an aggregate present in the water body, into the storage space through the opening. The collection is controlled when the floatable structure is at least partially immersed in the water body.

A skimming and separation device includes an outer casing defining a compartment, a floater that provides a skimming function, the floater being attached at its lower side to a vertically arranged bellow allowing the floater to adapt flow into a substantially circum volume and to move from an upper position with essentially no flow into the compartment to a lower position allowing flow of water and debris to follow the contours of the floater in a downward direction. The device further includes a power device with a propeller, the power device being controlled by a control unit such that various kinds of flows and pressures may be generated to control the in-flow and outflow of the device. At least one peripheral flow deflecting member achieves a rotational movement of downward directed flow of water and debris, in a horizontal plane and around a vertical longitudinal center axis of the device.

A floating debris remover having an operator station for directing debris into a debris inlet and a power manipulateable debris scoop for on-the-go separation of the debris from the water through elevation of the debris scoop with the debris remover having an operator station to allow an onboard operator to retrieve and deposit debris at a waste disposal site solely through operator manipulation of the debris scoop.

A mobile microalgae harvesting apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment the mobile microalgae harvesting apparatus includes a harvesting boom coupled to a harvesting vessel, where the harvesting boom skims a microalgae mixture of microalgae and water from a surface of a body of water down to a predetermined depth below the surface. In the embodiment, the mobile microalgae harvesting apparatus also includes a separator aboard the harvesting vessel that separates water from the microalgae mixture and a microalgae collector that collects microalgae from the separator, wherein the microalgae collector deposits the collected microalgae on a transfer vessel coupled to the harvesting vessel. A mobile microalgae harvester and a system for harvesting microalgae are also disclosed.

A spill vacuum apparatus having a container having a cavity and a fluid inlet, the lower portion of the cavity including a fluid outlet closed by a check valve, the upper portion including a vacuum port and a fluid-level actuated release valve, the release valve cooperating with the upper portion to seal the cavity from the atmosphere until the release valve is actuated by a high fluid level reached within the lower portion by fluid volume, wherein coupling a vacuum source to the vacuum port depressurizes the cavity when the release and check valves are closed, and wherein when fluid is received in the lower portion through the inlet so as to reach the high fluid level, the release valve is actuated to unseal the cavity to the atmosphere, thereby releasing the weight of the fluid to actuate the check valve and release the fluid through the outlet.