Embodiments disclosed here include a containment system and methods of containment which may include a segmented buoyant rim. Certain embodiments also include an inflatable rim with at least one inflation/deflation valve in the rim segments and ballast in the rim segments. Additionally, certain embodiments include material connected to the rim segments, to enclose a void created in the rim and to hang below the buoyant rim.

An example a method of manufacturing a film is provided. The method involves dissolving a backbone material in a non-aqueous solvent to form a non-aqueous solution. The method further involves adding the non-aqueous solution to an aqueous solution to form a liquid-liquid interface and injecting a particulate proximate to the liquid-liquid interface the non-aqueous solution is then evaporated to form a film containing the particulate. The film may be used in devices such as sensor devices for detecting hydrocarbons.

A method of activating and dewatering sludge through application of acoustic pressure shock waves to wastewater.

In a process for treating wastewater from a combined gasification and Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process, feedstock derived from Municipal Solid Waste or the like is gasified in a reactor (R) and treated in a cleanup unit (C) which generates a first wastewater stream (1st WWT STREAM) containing salts and inorganic pollutants. The first wastewater stream is treated in a treatment unit (T1) to remove inorganic pollutants derived from the syngas. The treatment comprises a) degassing, and subsequently b) neutralising the first wastewater stream before treatment in a Dissolved Air Flotation unit (72c) and filtering in a moving sand bed or similar (72d) to remove solids, and a stripping process to remove ammonia. A second wastewater stream (2.sup.nd WWT Stream) containing organic pollutants but being low in salts arises from the F-T process and is treated separately to allow recycling within the F-T process.

Methods for clarifying water, reducing turbidity of water, and removing phosphate from water include adding a water treatment composition having an aluminum-containing coagulant, and a natural non-charged polysaccharide, such as guar. The aluminum-containing compound can include polyaluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, polyaluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum sulfate, sodium aluminate, polyaluminum sulfate, polyaluminum silicate chloride, polyaluminum silicate sulfate, or a combination thereof.

Methods for clarifying water, reducing turbidity of water, and removing phosphate from water include adding a water treatment composition having an aluminum-containing coagulant, and a natural non-charged polysaccharide, such as guar. The aluminum-containing compound can include polyaluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, polyaluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum sulfate, sodium aluminate, polyaluminum sulfate, polyaluminum silicate chloride, polyaluminum silicate sulfate, or a combination thereof.

The disclosure relates to the use of ionic liquids as paraffin inhibitors, pour point depressant or cold flow improvers in the production, treatment and refining of hydrocarbon fluids.

A method for cleaning up oil spills using multi-layered carbon fiber-based absorbents is disclosed. The method for cleaning up oil spills requires an oil-contaminated area including a quantity of oil, a first storage vessel, an oil extraction machine, a heating element, and a multi-layered carbon fiber absorbent. The multi-layered modified carbon fiber absorbent is distributed to the oil-contaminated area, where the multi-layered modified carbon fiber absorbent is configured to extract the quantity of oil from the oil-contaminated area while maintaining hydrophobic. The quantity of oil is extracted and separated from the multi-layered modified carbon fiber absorbent using the oil extraction machine. The extracted quantity of oil is collected into the first storage vessel. The extract quantity of oil is then transferred over to a second storage vessel for later refinement.

A polishing filter apparatus employed within a sump pump system for removing mineral oils, natural ester, and synthetic ester-based fluids from an emulsion is provided. The polishing filter apparatus is connected to a sump pump barrier via a polishing filter inlet conduit. Further conduit structures are disposed within the polishing filter apparatus, which lead into a polishing filter cartridge. The polishing filter removes excess synthetic ester-based fluids from a water/oil emulsion fluid flowing therethrough and releases a resultant filtered fluid. The polishing filter cartridge contains a filtration media with a hydrophilic composition for the capture of synthetic ester-based fluid having a surface tension dissimilar to water, and the hydrophilic composition of the media has a surface energy greater than or equal to 35 dynes per centimeter.

A laser ablation and filtration process and apparatus wherein liquid containing hydrocarbons or other contaminants is purified. The liquid is exposed to laser energy at one or more selected wavelengths wherein the laser energy travels through the liquid and reaches the hydrocarbons or other contaminants and vaporizes, denatures, breaks down, neutralizes, renders inert and/or separates the hydrocarbons or contaminants from the liquid. A laser source is positioned in or on a vessel based on pre-set parameters to maximize exposure of the liquid to the laser energy, including sizing parameters, angle and inclination of the laser, retention time for the laser process to be applied and geometry of the containment for proper inclination. One or more collection chambers, which may include perforated membranes may be included to collect gases, separated hydrocarbons or contaminants and other by-products of the process. The vessel utilized may be submergible in water to pull or flow contaminated water therethough. The vessel may also be utilized outside a body of water wherein contaminated water from a source is introduced within the vessel.