Method and apparatus employing oleophilic brushes for oil spill clean-up

An apparatus for removing oil floating upon a body of water comprising:

• a. at least two cylindrically shaped brushes that have flexible, oleophilic bristles and that are connected to a support means such that said brushes have a lower portion in contact with said oil and an upper portion above said water, said brushes being positioned parallel between said support means in catamaran style and said support means being capable of floatation;
• b. sump area positioned between said brushes,
• c. motor means for rotating said brushes in opposite directions toward each other such that oil is drawn into the brushes and oil not picked up by the brushes is moved by hydrodynamic force to be deposited between the brushes in said sump area;
• and
• d. means for removing said oil from said brushes and said sump area, such means consisting essentially of a suction means positioned adjacent to said upper portion of said brushes and above said water.

An apparatus for removing submerged oil deposited upon a subtidal sea floor or riverbed beneath a body of water, comprising:

• a. at least one brush having flexible, oleophillic bristles connected to a support means floating on the surface of said water;
• b. a means for adjusting said brush so said brush may be positioned such that said brush has a lower portion in contact with said submerged oil for picking-up said oil;
• c. a motor means for moving said brush such that oil is drawn into the brush;
• and
• d. a means for removing oil from said brush, said means consisting essentially of a suction means.

An apparatus for removing submerged oil deposited upon the surface of a beach or shoreline, comprising:

• a. at least one brush having flexible, oleophilic bristles connected to a support means such that said brush has a lower portion in contact with said oil and an upper portion above said oil;
• b. motor means for moving the brush such that oil is drawn into said brush;
• and
• c. means for removing oil from said brush, said means consisting essentially of a suction means positioned adjacent to said upper portion of said brush.

A method for removing oil from a surface that is not oleophilic, where such surface is a body of water, a subtidal seafloor, a riverbed, a shoreline, or a beach, comprising:

• a. sweeping such surface with flexible, oleophilic bristles such that said oil is adsorbed on said bristles and drawn into the interstitial spaces between said bristles, and said bristles comprise at least one brush so that said sweeping of said surface may be easily controlled, and the removal of said oil thereby will be continuous and even without leaving behind streaks of said oil;
• b. removing said oil from said bristles and said interstitial spaces between said bristles by a means consisting essentially of suction;
• and
• c. depositing said oil in a collection tank.