Process for separating and/or recovering hydrocarbon oils from water using biodegradable absorbent sponges
OwnerMarc B. Mueller, Karl J. Mareaninventors
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Abstract
An improved process for absorbing oils and especially separating and recovering oils from an aqueous medium or aqueous/wetted medium using an absorbent oleophilic biodegradable sponge material comprised of essentially fat-free, foamable natural products, specifically animal proteins or plant polysaccharides, such as gelatin, collagen, egg white albumen, gum agar, gum arabic, gum karaya, and locust bean gum, which absorb oils at a rate of at least about 30 times their weight.
Claims15
An improved process for absorbing oils selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon oils and hydrocarbon fuels comprising the step of contacting said oils with an absorbent oleophilic biodegradable sponge material comprised of at least one essentially fat free, foamed, biodegradable natural product selected from the group consisting of animal proteins and plant polymaccharides, which material is capable of absorbing at least about thirty times its weight of oils.
An improved process for the separation of hydrocarbon oils and hydrocarbon fuels from admixtures with aqueous substances which comprises contacting the admixtures with at least one absorbent biodegradable sponge material comprised of at least one essentially fat free, foamed, biodegradable natural product selected from the group consisting of animal proteins and plant polysaccharides, which material is capable of absorbing at least about thirty times its weight of oils.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.