US 6,632,501 B2 · Loose fiber adsorbent

Abstract

A sorbent and filter media material produced from a mass of delustered hydrophobic and lipophilic fibers. In one embodiment the fibers are mixed together to form a cohesive wad of fibers. The wad has a substantial volume of internal interstices available to absorb a liquid hydrocarbon or an organic liquid, and the surfaces of the fibers also adsorb that liquid. The combination of adsorption and absorption enables the sorbent to sorb up to twenty times it own weight of hydrocarbon or organic liquid. Preferably a majority of the fibers are of a relatively shorter length, while a minority of the fibers are of a relatively longer length. The longer fibers help bind the wad together into a cohesive mass that has a substantial volume of internal interstices. After a short time during which the hydrocarbon is sorbed, the wadded mass can be collected, pressed to recover the hydrocarbon, and recycled.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A sorbent wadded mass suitable for adsorbing a liquid hydrocarbon that is contaminating a body of water, said sorbent mass comprising:

(a) a plurality of relatively shorter hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers, said relatively shorter hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers having rough, delustered surfaces, wherein said plurality of relatively shorter hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers comprises a mixture of polyester fibers and nylon fibers;
(b) a plurality of relatively longer hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers, said relatively longer hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers having rough, delustered surfaces, said relatively longer hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers and said rough delustered surfaces binding said plurality of relatively shorter hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers and said plurality of relatively longer hydrophobic and lipophilic fibers into a wadded mass, said wadded mass including a plurality of interstitial spaces and having a density that is substantially less than that of water, so that said wadded mass is adapted to float on a surface of a body of water, wherein said plurality of relatively longer hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers comprises a mixture of polyester fibers and nylon fibers;
and
(c) a porous cover encasing said wadded mass.

1 more element

A sorbent wadded suitable for adsorbing a liquid hydrocarbon product, said sorbent mass comprising:

(a) a plurality of relatively shorter hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers, a majority of said plurality of relatively shorter hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers having lengths ranging from about 10 mm to about 20 mm, wherein said plurality of relatively shorter hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers comprises a mixture of polyester fibers and nylon fibers;
and
(b) a plurality of relatively longer hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers, a majority of said plurality of relatively longer hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers having lengths ranging from about 70 mm to about 90 mm, said relatively longer hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers binding said plurality of relatively shorter hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers and said plurality of relatively longer hydrophobic and lipophilic fibers into said wadded mass, wherein said plurality of relatively longer hydrophobic and lipophilic synthetic fibers comprises a mixture of polyester fibers and nylon fibers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Loose fiber adsorbent

Life of this patent

Loose fiber adsorbent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22