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?

Oil Spill Solidifier

WATCH THIS VIDEO

 

 

 THERE IS A SOLUTION TO THE GULF OIL SPILL

Guardian Environmental Technologies offers an immediate solution to the Gulf oil spill that would save hundreds of thousands of dollars, reduce the cleanup time and help save the  precious fishing grounds along the coast. PetroGuard is a polymeric oil spill solidifier that is applied directly to the oil floating on the surface. The oil is instantly solidified and remains floating until it is scooped up and removed. The resulting floating matrix is will not contaminate anything it touches. It can be safely handled and will not release the captured oil in the way conventional absorbents do. If the solidified oil washes up on the beach it will not harm the environment and can be easily collected and disposed of. PetroGuard has a 400% by weight absorption capability meaning one gallon of PetroGuard will absorb and lock up about 4 gallons of oil.

Anyone having a contact with BP one of the regulatory agencies should be contacted to alert them about this technology.

Please contact us at info@guardianenvironmental.com

Are alternative oil spill cleanup technologies being ignored??

 

 

 

 

Because of the intense pressure of the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf, Government agencies are apparently operating without a clear plan. BP appears to be in control of the process of evaluating offers from small companies for their particular technologies. But the companies that are in this boat are trying all means to cut through the bureacracies to get our ideas in front of the right people. There is a wealth of entrepreneurial talent out there. Somebody needs to take notice.

Our offer of PetroGuard solidifying absorbent could make a significant contribution in the efforts to clean up the oil spill.

Please contact us at

info@guardianenvironmental.com

or view our

website at www.guardianenvironmental.com

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.

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.

 

 

Welcome to the kickoff of our blog!

Thanks for joining us on our new environmental safety blog. Here we will bring you news and information not just about us but about topics we hope you will find interesting.

ADVANCED ABSORPTION TECHNOLOGY

Our first article is meant to explain what we mean by "Advanced Absorption Technology" (AAT). This is a term we have adopted to describe the underlying technology of our products. AAT is a process of total absorption of a hydrocarbon molecule into the actual molecular structure of our polymer absorbent. This process takes place almost immediately upon contact by a liquid hydrocarbon with our absorbent. During the absorption process (think of how an ameoba engulfs its food), the hydrocarbon molecule becomes a permanent part of the structure, meaning that once absorbed, it cannot be released. Why is that important? When working with hazardous chemicals or oil spills, it is important that the spill is quickly contained and immobilized. We call this process "Hyper-immobilization". Therefore, the immobilized liquid now has been turned into a solid and as such can be collected on land or on the surface of water as a solid and disposed of. This means it eliminates any further environmental impact, will not contaminate those who are collecting it and will not release any toxic substances, even under pressure. Note that the solidified matrix will float on the surface of the water indefinitely or until it is picked up. During the time the matrix remains on the water or on land uncollected, there is no further action that needs to be taken until it can be collected and disposed of.