Apparatus and Methods for Removing Contaminants from a Liquid
AssigneeWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution
InventorsThomas Gray Curtis, JR., Scott C. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for removing a contaminant from a liquid includes a tension element extending along a length of the liquid and may be near a bottom of the liquid. A plurality of buoyant strips having a polymer defining an open-cell foam are attached to the tension element and extend to a surface of the liquid, with at least a portion of the strips floating on the surface. The polymer may include ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer (e.g., 100% EMA copolymer).
Claims29
An apparatus for removing a contaminant from a liquid, the apparatus comprising:
- a tension element extending along a length of the liquid, proximate a bottom thereof;
- and
- a plurality of buoyant strips attached to the tension element and extending to a surface of the liquid, at least a portion of the strips floating on the surface,
- wherein (i) the strips comprise a polymer defining an open cell foam, (ii) the polymer comprises ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer, and (iii) the foam comprises at least one of:
- an average cell size greater than 1.4 mm and a ratio of open cells to closed cells greater than 1:1.
A method of removing a contaminant from a liquid, the method comprising the steps of:
- placing a tension element along a length of a bottom of the liquid;
- attaching a plurality of buoyant strips to the tension element, such that the strips extend to a surface of the liquid with at least a portion of the strips floating on the surface;
- and
- exposing the strips to the contaminant in the liquid,
- wherein (i) the strips comprise a polymer defining an open cell foam, (ii) the polymer comprises ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer, and (iii) the foam comprises at least one of:
- an average cell size greater than 1.4 mm and a ratio of open cells to closed cells greater than 1:1.
A method of manufacturing a contaminant removal apparatus, the method comprising:
- mixing a polymer with a foaming agent to produce an open cell foam sheet, the polymer comprising ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer;
- introducing a plurality of substantially parallel slits in the foam sheet, the slits originating at a base portion of the foam sheet and extending to an opposite edge of the foam sheet to define a plurality of strips attached to the base portion;
- and
- attaching the base portion to a tension element,
- wherein the foam comprises at least one of:
- an average cell size greater than 1.4 mm and a ratio of open cells to closed cells greater than 1:1.
A composition comprising a polymer defining an open cell foam, the polymer comprising ethylene alkyl acrylate copolymer, and the foam comprising at least one of:
- an average cell size greater than 1.4 mm and a ratio of open cells to closed cells greater than 1:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.