# US 2013/0240451 A1 · Apparatus and Methods for Removing Contaminants from a Liquid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0240451 A1 - Document ID: US20130240451A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/780,640 - Filed: 2013-02-28 - Published: 2013-09-19 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-29 - Assignees: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - Applicants: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - Inventors: Thomas Gray Curtis, JR.; Scott C. Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130240451A1 ## CPC - B01D 17/0202: {by ab- or adsorption} - C02F 1/285: {using synthetic organic sorbents} - C02F 1/40: Devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material (cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like materials E02B15/04; devices in sewers for separating liquid or solid substances from sewage E03F5/14, e.g. for use in drains leading to the sewer E03F5/16) - C02F 1/681: {by addition of solid materials for removing an oily layer on water} - C08J 9/0061: {characterized by the use of several polymeric components} - C08J 9/06: by a chemical blowing agent - C08J 9/36: After-treatment (C08J9/22 takes precedence) - C08J 9/38: Destruction of cell membranes - C02F 2101/32: Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil - C08J 2201/03: Extrusion of the foamable blend - C08J 2205/05: Open cells, i.e. more than 50% of the pores are open - C08J 2205/052: Closed cells, i.e. more than 50% of the pores are closed - C08J 2323/08: Copolymers of ethene (C08J2323/16 takes precedence) - C08J 2423/06: Polyethene - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) ## 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). ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ethylene alkyl acrylate comprises ethylene methyl acrylate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises at least 80% ethylene alkyl acrylate, by weight. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the foam comprises a tensile strength greater than 14 psi. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the foam comprises a density greater than 1 lb/ft3. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polymer further comprises low density polyethylene. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contaminant comprises a petroleum product. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contaminant comprises a nonpolar species. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the ethylene alkyl acrylate comprises ethylene methyl acrylate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the polymer comprises at least 80% ethylene alkyl acrylate, by weight. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the foam comprises a tensile strength greater than 14 psi. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the foam comprises a density greater than 1 lb/ft3. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the polymer further comprises low density polyethylene. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the contaminant comprises a petroleum product. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the contaminant comprises a nonpolar species. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising adsorbing the contaminant onto the strips. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: removing the strips from the liquid; and extracting the contaminant from the strips by mechanical action. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising redeploying the strips into the liquid for further contaminant removal. ### Claim 20 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. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the ethylene alkyl acrylate comprises ethylene methyl acrylate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the polymer comprises at least 80% ethylene alkyl acrylate, by weight. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the foam comprises a tensile strength greater than 14 psi. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the foam comprises a density greater than 1 lb/ft3. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the polymer further comprises low density polyethylene. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the mixing occurs in an extruder. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the contaminant comprises a petroleum product. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the contaminant comprises a nonpolar species. ### Claim 29 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.