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.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus (10) for remediation of a site contaminated by an oil spill. The apparatus (10) comprises a porous capsule (12) encapsulating material (14) for sorbing oil. The material (14) comprises granules of an at least semi-open cell polymeric foam, the granules being less than 10cm3 in size. Ingredients from which the polymeric foam is formed comprise acrylonitrile butadiene rubber as a major constituent thereof by weight.

Oil-absorbent skimmers of the present invention include an upper oil-absorbent flotation head that floats on water and several absorbent strands attached to the underside of the flotation head. The flotation head has a liquid-permeable cover with absorbent strips inside. The absorbent strips and strands are made of oil-absorbing materials that resist absorption of water. The passive oil-absorbent skimmers may be free-floating and may be used in stormwater catch basins, water holding tanks, vaults, sumps, bilges and the like for capturing hydrocarbons such as oil and oil-based liquids.

Articles are provided for absorbing fluids. In embodiments, the articles of the present disclosure are modified to make them hydrophobic, thereby decreasing their affinity for water and similar liquids, while increasing their affinity for other hydrophobic materials, including oil. After use, the articles, in embodiments sponges, may have their absorbed materials removed therefrom, and the articles may then be re-used to absorb additional materials.

A floatable modular device for absorbing oil from a surface, includes a generally disk-shaped floatable cage tapering towards the periphery of the cage in a peripheral region thereof; and a water-repellent strip- or chip-shaped oil absorbent accommodated in the cage, wherein the cage further includes at least one connector, element configured for joining plural ones of the modular devices together, to form an articulate oil absorber in which the individual cages are oriented in parallel to one another. A method of manufacturing the device includes providing a first, grid-like sheet made of plastics, positioning a water-repellent strip- or chip-shaped oil absorbent on the first grid-like sheet, positioning a second sheet on the oil absorbent, and welding the first and second sheets together at their peripheries, with the oil absorbent in between, wherein peripheral regions of the first and second sheets are bent towards one another.

A sorbent-based oil skimmer is configured to collect oil from an oil layer and passively deposit the oil in an encasing, where the oil can be continuously or periodically removed. The oil skimmer includes an encasing and a sponge that is partially enclosed within the encasing. The sponge has a top sheet in contact with the oil layer and a shell connected to the top sheet, where the shell extends into the encasing. Oil collected by the top sheet is conveyed through the shell, where it is deposited into the encasing under the force of gravity. In some applications, the sponge is manufactured from a silicone-based polymer that has been impregnated with carbonaceous material. The skimmer may optionally include counterweights, ballast tanks, buoyancy adjustment systems and propulsion modules.

A system, method for forming, and a method of manufacturing a boom for the containment of contaminants is disclosed. The boom includes a cover and an adsorbent or absorbent material disposed within the cover. The adsorbent or absorbent material may be formed of one or more sheets of flexible fabric folded upon itself to form a convoluted structure within the elongated cover. Additionally, the material disposed within the elongated cover may form a non-cylindrical cross-section. The material may be at least partially a polyester material.

A system for cleaning rivers, channels and water courses in general includes floating modules, each having a cavity and an opening that puts the inside of the cavity in communication with the outer environment, and members that position the module so that the opening is at the height of the surface of a water body to be cleaned.

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.

The apparatus for removal of garbage from water comprises a garbage collecting system in a boat with at least one inlet to allow the liquid to flow into the garbage collecting system, a sump pump for pulling liquid into and through the garbage collecting system, and to an outlet of the system, and a collecting system to collect the garbage, wherein the sump pump pumps at such a speed to maintain the highest point on the bottom edge of the inlet at a level below the water line outside the body, and to maintain the water level within the body slightly below that of the water outside the body.