Guardian Environmental Technologies Blog

Cleanup the oil sheen with SheenGuard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although it seems like the BP well is finally under control and no longer leaking into the gulf, there is still a massive task ahead to clean up the oil that has washed into the shallow water regions along the Gulf. Guardian's exclusive "Blanket-Boom" products are specifically designed to absorb and permanently contain the thin film of oil that always remains even after the skimmers are done. SheenGuard blanket- booms have a much larger surface area for absorbtion than round booms. In fact on a per foot calculation, a 24" section will have the same surface area as 8, 24" sections of 5" sorbent booms at a cost of about $2.00 per foot, about 28% cost saving. More importantly, SheenGuard blanket booms are filled with PetroGuard D that permanently solidifies the oil and will not allow the oil to leach or leak back into the water. They can be left in place for long periods of time where sheens are present.

Pillows are clipped together to form the blanket and is the ideal situation for backwater areas.Contact Guardian Environmental Technologies at info@guardianenvironmental.com or call 860 350 2200.

PetroGuard Solidifying Absorbent Not Being Used. Why?

PetroGuard is probably one of the easiest and quickest EPA approved solutions to at least part of the problem. Oil that has made its way into the calmer inland waters and shore areas could be easily and quickly treated with PetroGuard which would instantly absorb and solidify any oil it comes in contact with. Why is solidification important? Because once absorbed, the oil becomes a solid rubber matrix that will never again release oil, even under pressure. See our video of how PetroGuard quickly and permanently turns crude oil into a manageable solid. This solidified oil can then be collected and disposed of safely and cheaply. Why will BP not pay attention?

Don't just absorb spills - PetroGuard them!

When responding to hazardous chemical and oil spills, using conventional absorbents just doesn't do the trick. PetroGuard on the other hand will lock up the spill, prevent further migration, drastically reduce or eliminate vapor production and allow you to pick up the chemical or oil easily and quickly as solid. This holds true for a water or land environment. Cost to absorb and solidify a gallon of hazardous liquid chemical is about $3.50.

Disposal is cheap and safe, costing an average of about $375 for a 55 gallon drum  of treated chemicals weighing approximately 400 lbs. Incineration is the recommended way since it is cleaner and more environmentally friendly than landfilling.

PetroGuard your spills, don't just absorb them!

Port Arthur Oil Spill

The Port Arthur Texas oil spill cleanup operations are being carried out in the traditional method of using containment booms and oil skimmers. While this is an accepted methodology, there is a technology available that would greatly enhance the cleanup results and truly remove the floating oil and sheens from the water surface without the use of surfactants (detergents). This technique is classified as "Advanced Absorption Technology" and the commercial product that is most appropriate is PetroLite for oil spills. Containment booms and skimmers are not 100% effective in capturing floating oil. Alternatively, PetroLite will instantly immobilize and solidify any floating oil that is comes in contact with. Any further ecological damage is thereby prevented, cleanup operations are greatly simplified and associated cost savings become very apparent. PetroLite is listed by the USEPA as appropriate for use on water or land. Cleanup contractors and the U.S. Coast Guard and the Texas General Land Office should have a keen interest in this technology. 

For more information, contact Guardian Environmental Technologies here. 

 

View video demonstration of PetroLite used on crude oil spills on water.

How not to respond to chemical spills!

Unfortunately, many companies still respond to chemical spills using mineral products or sand. While these products are inexpensive, they are also ineffective in actually absorbing the liquid. Sand will only cause the liquid to cling to the surface of the grains, creating another problem of disposing of the sand (weight and bulk), possibly contaminating the responder or creating a pollution problem. Instead, look for a product that:

• absorbs
• immobilizes
  
• permanently solidifies the oil or chemical
  

Advanced Absorption Technology will allow first responders to quickly and permantly immobilize a chemical spill, transform the liquid into a solid thereby enhancing efficiency of the cleanup operation, as well as reducing the risk to the responders.

Use of dispersants for oil spills.

Icy oil spill easier to clean, scientists say (from Anchorage Daily News)

CONTRADICTORY: Research funded by oil interests conflicts with conventional wisdom.

(Scientists funded by Shell and six other oil companies) said "that oil spilled in open water tends to spread out quickly over large areas and contaminate the shoreline. In contrast, recent testing in the Barents Sea above northern Europe has shown that ice can act as a natural blockade that traps the oil and gives responders more time to clean it up. The researchers said they discharged crude oil in broken and slushy ice off the northern coast of Norway. Though it isn't illegal here, such experiments have never been approved in U.S. waters.

Cumulatively, the researchers spilled 5,944 gallons of oil on the ice, according to an interim report on the tests.

The study didn't look at the environmental impact of spills in the Arctic. In other industry-funded studies, SINTEF and some researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are still studying the potential toxic effects of oil on Arctic species."

Dispersants consist normally of one or more surfactants. The use of dispersants (detergents similar to dishwashing soap) are very popular with the oil companies, because they are cheap, easy to apply (pour into the water or onto the ice) and make the oil seem to disappear, like in your kitchen sink. What actually happens is that the dispersant (as in spread out) converts the spill into tiny droplets in suspension that seem invisible to the naked eye. That of course makes the amateur environmentalist happy because it is no longer an eyesore. However the real truth is that a detergent is known to be toxic. Detergents will dissolve the natural oils of sea birds and cause them to sink and drown. The toxic effects of the detergents are well known to be harmful. If one were to take a sample of water after treating an oil spill with dispersants, and measure the parts per million toxicity or presence of oil in the water, it would quickly be evident that the parts were far in excess of what is considered safe for human or animal consumption (fresh water of course since we don't drink seawater, but you get the point).

A far better alternatives to dispersants are solidifying polymeric absorbents, that permanently lock up the oil (molecules) so that the oil no longer is a liquid pollutant, even if it comes in contact with wildlife or plants. The resulting solid matrix will float indefinitely and can be allowed to drift ashore as a non-polluting solid and then easily collected for disposal without exposing workers or the environment to the liquid oil. We all remember the pictures of the workers trying to use paper towels to mop up the Exxon Valedez oil spill. However, although the oil companies are aware of these new products, they ignore them because they are more expensive to buy and store for responding to a spill which is why they opt for the detergent approach, claiming it is easier.This does not take into consideration the damage to the environment using disperants or doing nothing.

 

This is a still from a video presentation from our website showing the solidification process that you may view in its entirety by selecting this link.