A water-oil separation device uses a difference in density between water and oil. The water-oil separation device can easily and quickly separate oil by using a polymer film floating at interface between water and oil. The water-oil separation device easily and quickly collects oil of various viscosities with a simple structure by using differences in density between materials without using a conventional lyophilic/lyophobic film, thus solving the drawbacks of conventional filter-based and adsorption-based methods, and enabling quick and effective responses to actual oil spill situations.

A water surface garbage salvaging device, comprising a demihull, a large garbage salvaging device and a small garbage cleaning device; wherein the large garbage salvaging device is arranged on a front portion of the demihull, and the small garbage cleaning device is arranged on a rear portion thereof; the large garbage salvaging device comprises a paddle wheel, slipways and a large garbage storage bin; and the small garbage cleaning device comprises a filter mesh, a guide rail slider mechanism, a lifting mechanism and a pulley system, a hanging bracket is arranged above the filter mesh.

Smart membranes (14) are integrated into a small, unmanned surface vessel (20) to enable the efficient, automated cleanup of oil spills. Such a vessel (20) has the potential to provide a low-cost, modular solution for day-to-day oil-spill cleanup operations, especially in confined aquatic areas, such as under piers and in the small spaces between marine vessels and piers. The smart membranes (14) are provided on the surface of a conveyor belt (34) that circulates the membranes (14) through the surrounding body of water (10) for oil collection, as well as through an internal reduction chamber (22) of the vessel (20) for oil release. The smart membranes (14) are adapted to attract and repel oil (12) in response to low-voltage commands applied across the conveyor belt (34), using a process that is repeatable for a number of cycles, offering high efficiency and long durability (FIG. 5).

An oil spill clean-up and recovery system for marine vessels, which includes a pivoting and height adjustable boom extending from the vessels, which has upper and lower frameworks that are generally parallel. This includes an oil containment panel which is vertically oriented, movable, and generally laterally secured between the frameworks. A plurality of floats are secured to the oil containment panel and maintain it about the surface of a body of water for containing oil or other undesirable liquids or debris. A plurality of floating oil evacuation tubes are height adjustable and attached to separate floats, each tube having an inlet for receiving oil around the water line. The floating oil evacuation tubes are laterally positioned in proximity of one-another, and in front of the oil containment panel. The oil containment panel collects, contains, and deflects oil to the floating evacuation tubes, which then receive and delivery oil to the tanker.

A floating-oil recovery device includes: a bubble-curtain generation mechanism configured to discharge air into water to generate a bubble curtain in the water so as to increase a thickness of a film of floating oil while regulating spread of the floating oil; and an ejector configured to recover an oil-water mixed fluid having the floating oil and the water mixed with each other by jetting high-velocity water toward the film of floating oil enclosed with the bubble curtain to destroy the film of floating oil.

An oil spill retrieval system for retrieving spilled oil from the surface of a body of water and including a boat having means for collecting the oil from the water surface and having means for processing the collected oil. A pontoon boat that collects spilled oil from the ocean through a hair roller system suspended between the pontoons. Human hair is present within a porous casing of the roller and Oil floating on the water enters the porous casing whereupon the oil is absorbed by the human hair, wherein the absorbed oil is pass through one or more pipes to go into large pontoons which are the main oil collecting tanks on the pontoon boat.

Provided is a toothed drum type oil recovery device, which includes: a recovery drum having a center coupled to a rotary shaft and having a plurality of tooth units formed around an outer circumference thereof, wherein one side of the recovery drum is disposed in the water to which oil is spilled so that the oil is recovered by the tooth unit at one side of the recovery drum according to the rotation; and a separation unit containing an oil separating liquid and disposed at the other side of the recovery drum, wherein when the tooth unit moves onto the oil separating liquid at the other side of the recovery drum according to the rotation of the recovery drum, the oil separating liquid is introduced into a space between the tooth units adjacent to each other by means of a capillary action to separate the oil from the tooth unit.

A separating arrangement for a device for collecting waste material floating on or near the surface of water is disclosed. The separating arrangement includes a first basin and a separating means. The water containing waste is led to the first basin by a transfer arrangement, such as a pipe. The device is configured in such a way that the water coming from the transfer arrangement has a speed gradient, namely, the cross section of the transfer arrangement has areas where the speeds of the water flow are different. The fastest speed component of the water has the highest concentration of waste. The first basin and the separating means are configured in such a way that when the water arrives at the first basin, most of the waste reaches the separating means and does not clog the walls of the first basin.

A method for absorbing liquids, such as liquid hydrocarbons, includes applying recycled carpet material to the liquid. The recycled carpet material is prepared by shredding carpet and removing fibers from the shredded carpet to obtain carpet backing material. The carpet backing material may be further treated to remove fibers. The carpet backing material is then applied to the liquid.

A barrier member for an oil spill barrier configured for retaining one or more weights when assembled or combined with a second barrier member to form a barrier unit. A first barrier member has a first side for facing away from the second barrier member and a second side opposite the first side for facing towards the second barrier member in the barrier unit, the second side includes a substantially planar area for abutment to the second barrier member. The second side has at least one recessed region for receiving the one or more weights, the recessed region being recessed from the second side in a direction towards the first side relative to a plane of the substantially planar area. The second side has first and second elongate half-channels disposed to opposing sides of the at least one recessed region.