WO1994023815A1

WO1994023815A1 - Hydrocarbon absorber and solidifier

Info

Publication number: WO1994023815A1
Application number: PCT/US1994/004446
Authority: WO
Inventors: Herbert W. Holland
Original assignee: Holland Herbert W
Priority date: 1993-04-19
Filing date: 1994-04-18
Publication date: 1994-10-27
Also published as: AU6711794A

Abstract

The device collects and contains spilled or leaked liquid hydrocarbons by absorbing them. The absorbed material is solidified within the device into a rubber-like mass. The device will then float indefinitely, and is easily retrieved and handled for disposal. The device can be used repeatedly, until its capacity to absorb and solidify liquid hydrocarbons has been reached. One embodiment of the device is a pillow shaped configuration having an envelope (2) with seaming along three of the four sides (2a, 2b, 2c). The cross section of the pillow prior to closure at seam (2c) reveals a stratification of layers formed by folding fabric sheets at points (6, 7, 8) resulting in chambers (14, 15, 16, 17, 18). The chambers are then filled with an absorbent and solidifying polymer material, preferably an organic elastomer polymer, such as polynorbornene. A cylindrical embodiment may be inserted into monitor wells to collect, contain and remove liquid hydrocarbons contained therein.

Description

HYDROCARBON ABSORBER AND SOLIDIFIER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to adsorbent devices used for containing and removing liquid hydrocarbon fuels and lubricants that are leaked and spilled in recreational and commercial marine vessels and in the marine environment.

For recreational and commercial vessels, there is a need to remove hydrocarbons spilled or leaked into bilges and sumps as part of the routine maintenance of the vessel. This unpleasant, yet critically important task is necessary to prevent the hydrocarbons that accumulate in the sump or bilge from polluting an adjacent waterway by inadvertently being pumped or expelled from the vessel.

In a broad range of commercial applications, there is a need to contain and remove liquid hydrocarbons that are spilled or leaked into the environment as part of the routine maintenance and operation of a wide variety of equipment that rely on liquid hydrocarbon products for fuel and lubrication. This is necessary to prevent pollution of the environment, by for example, entry into the adjacent water column as the spilled or leaked liquid hydrocarbons seep through the ground or allowing the hydrocarbons to flow downstream as waste water runoff.

For marine vessel fueling facilities, there is a need to remove hydrocarbons spilled or leaked on to the surface of the water as part of routine fueling operations of vessels. Spills of this nature are generated by fuel being forced out of the fuel tank's ventilating valve and on to the surface of the water when the tank is filled to capacity, or by allowing fuel to overflow from the fuel intake port and on to the surface of the water during fueling operations. The task of containing these spills is necessary to prevent the hydrocarbons that are spilled or leaked on the water's surface from spreading throughout the fueling facility area, allowing them to flow out of the containment area and polluting the adjacent waterways.

One common method of eliminating a sheen on the water caused by hydrocarbon spills is to pour a dispersant such as liquid dishwashing soap on the spill. This breaks up the oily sheen into tiny particles of hydrocarbon that remain in the water and not visible to the eye unless they are magnified. This "out of sight, out of mind" method is a prevalent treatment of spills generated in the marine environment. The use of a dispersant in this manner currently violates a number of regulations and statutes with regard to the use of dispersants in the handling of spills of this nature.

Seldom is an effort made to extract the pollutants from surface of the water when they occur, leaving the hydrocarbons in the water to spread throughout the adjacent waterway and pollute the environment.

Another common approach to the task of removing spilled or leaked hydrocarbons is to use an absorbent device to contain such spills. A wide variety of components, including items such as cotton, peat moss, rice hulls and ground-up corn cobs are used in the fabrication of these devices. One such device relies on ground-up chicken feathers encased in a cotton pillow case. The largest class of sorbent devices are typically composed of a group of non-woven, petro-chemical based fabric materials having the physical properties of absorbing liquid hydrocarbons while repelling water. These devices can be packaged as a flat pad or sheet, or can be rolled into a long cylindrical boom for placement to absorb and retain leaks and spills caused by the equipment. They are also packaged as strips of the non-woven fabric encased in an open weave plastic net, resulting in a sausage-like boom.

In each instance, these devices are placed in areas where liquid hydrocarbons accumulate to collect the liquid hydrocarbons so they can be removed.

The prior art methods of dealing with liquid hydrocarbon spills are extremely harmful to the marine environment as well as posing a variety of health and safety hazards. These methods do not provide a means to contain, collect and dispose of the spills before they can reach the surface of the water and provide an inefficient means to deal with the spilled hydrocarbons once they reach the surface of the water. The placement of a liquid detergent on the surface of the water to disperse the spill does not remove the liquid hydrocarbons from the water, it merely removes the telltale sheen from sight. This method emulsifies the liquid hydrocarbons and allows them to become part of the water column. The pollutants are never extracted from the water, leaving them to contaminate the area adjacent water column. Marinelife and wildlife are effected by the pollution. The accumulation of hydrocarbons on the surface of the water make the water unfit for drinking or swimming and presents a safety hazard in that their presence creates an even greater fire hazard than that which already exists due to the handling of flammable liquids in a closed environment such as the bilge of a vessel or at a marine fueling facility. The free release of pollutants into the marine environment poses a number of concerns that are not addressed using the present method of eliminating the sheen from the surface of the water at these facilities.

Sorbent devices seldom recover all of the spilled fuel due to the short amount of time required for a large surface area to be covered with a hydrocarbon sheen by a small amount of spilled fuel and the time involved to deploy such devices. Use of these devices often results in the transfer of the liquid hydrocarbon pollutants from one environment to another since the absorbent devices are subject to having the sorbed hydrocarbons released by gravity, column weight and outside forces exerting pressure on them when they are removed from the spill area. The released liquid hydrocarbons are then free to seep through the ground and enter the adjacent water column or flow downstream as waste water runoff.

For storage areas of fuels and fuel oils, there is a need to monitor and remove hydrocarbons spilled or leaked into vaults and storage areas of the storage tanks as part of the routine maintenance of these facilities. This is necessary to prevent the hydrocarbons that accumulate in these enclosed storage areas from polluting the adjacent substrata by inadvertently allowing them to flow out of the containment area due to excessive rainfall runoff or other causes of an elevated water table.

A common method of extracting pollutants from monitor wells is to use a bailing device that is lowered into the well to collect samples from the surface of the water contained in the well. The pollutant extracted from the well, along with any water also collected in the bailing device, is placed in a container. The well is continually sampled until no pollutant is visible or detected in the bailing device when it is extracted from the well. The container of pollutant and water is then transported to a designated site for disposal.

Such prior art remediation device is extremely labor intensive. Further, hydrocarbon pollutants and contaminated water extracted from a well create a hazardous liquid cargo while being transported to an approved disposal site inasmuch as they are subject to leaking and spilling while in transit because the shipment is bulky and difficult to handle. Disposal of the contaminated liquid requires extracting the pollutants from the water until the water is of suitable cleanliness for free release back in to the environment. Again, disposal often results in the transfer of a pollutant from one environment to another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an absorbent device is provided which not only absorbs liquid hydrocarbons, but also quickly and irreversibly solidifies the absorbed liquid hydrocarbons into an easily retrievable solid rubber-like mass. The device is formed as a pillow from a textile material sewn to form layered chambers in stratification contained within an outer envelope layer which defines the overall pillow shape. A solidifying polymer is placed in each chamber and seamed into the body of the pillow.

The basic design of the device can be enhanced by the addition of seams along the longitudinal and lateral axes of the pillow. A seam is placed longitudinally along the center axis of the pillow, creating two columns of stratified pockets. Additional cross-seams are placed at evenly spaced intervals laterally from one side of the pillow to the opposite side of the pillow, crossing the center axis seam of the pillow in a perpendicular or an oblique orientation to the center axis of the pillow. This seaming results in a quilting effect which produces a calculated number and arrangement of chambers containing an approximately equal amount of solidifying polymer. The design and spacing of the seams creates multiple consolidation points of the stratified layers, the consolidation points acting as flow channels and defining multiple compartmented absorption cells facilitating and hastening the migration of the spill or leak to the solidifying polymer, followed by the complete absorption and solidification of the spill or leak.

The seaming of the textile material components of the device can be accomplished by several methods including mechanical stitching, thermal sealing and ultra-sonic fusing. These seaming methods are used to seal the perimeter of the pillow, produce the individual chambers of solidifying polymer and unite the stratified internal layers with the outer envelope. The joining of the layers of textile material results in a series of consolidation points of the layers of textile material and creates the flow channels throughout the body of the pillow for the migration of spills and leaks to the absorptive cells within the pillow.

The solidifying polymer can be placed in the pillow using any of several different methods. As a first example, the polymer, in its granular form, can be placed in equally measured amounts, into the open end of the pillow after three sides of the pillow have been seamed and the center longitudinal axis seam has been placed to form side-by-side elongated pockets. The inserted polymer collects at the bottom of the pocket and a cross-seam is placed to form a polymer-filled chamber. The step of introducing polymer into the open end of the pillow, then sealing it into the chambers by placing a cross-seam is repeated until all the stratified chambers have been formed to create a matrix arrangement of polymer-filled chambers stratified within the outer envelope of the pillow. The seaming to form the matrix of chambers also acts to provide the quilting effect desired for increasing the rate of migration of the hydrocarbons to the interior of the pillow by the creation of consolidation points and flow channels.

Other methods of stratifying and sealing the solidifying polymer within the outer envelope of the device can be used. One method calls for the solidifying polymer to be encased and sealed within individual bags of single layer textile material, these bags being filled and sealed in an assembly-line fashion. Each bag, filled with a measured amount of the solidifying polymer is sealed to form a solitary chamber of solidifying polymer within a single layer of textile material. Individual bags are then arranged side-by-side in a matrix configuration of rows and columns to produce a single layer of bags conforming to the designated perimeter dimensions of the finished pillow. Identical layers of the arrangement of polymer-filled bags are duplicated and then stratified over the first layer of bags to produce the required thickness of the pillow. Each layer of the arrangement of bags is positioned so the perimeter of the overall shape of the layer and the side-by-side intersections of the matrix of bags in each layer are aligned in substantial registration with the corresponding perimeter of the arrangement of bags and the side-by-side intersections of the arranged bags of the other layers. The stratified layers of individual polymer-filled bags are then enclosed within an outer envelope of textile material and sealed within the perimeter of the outer envelope. The intersections of the individual polymer-filled bags of the stratified layers are seamed to the outer envelope of the pillow, creating the longitudinal and cross-seams of the pillow used as flow channels and consolidating points of the stratified layers. The result is the desired quilting effect integral to the concept.

The solidifying polymer can also be suspended within the fibers of a textile material as they are being formed, or attached to the textile material. The suspending of the polymer is accomplished by incorporating the polymer into the body of the fabric during the process used to form the textile material. This process is normally used in the production of melt-blown or spunbonded textiles. The manufacturing of a synthetic textile fabric material starts with raw petro-chemical based pellets, such as polypropylene, being blended with pigments and/or additives. This mixture is heated to the melting point of the pellets and extruded into filaments. The filaments are drawn and attenuated, using high velocity air to align the polymer molecules and maximize fiber strength. The resulting continuous. high tenacity filaments are formed into a web on a moving conveyor screen and thermally fused together with a bonding system to maximize the strength and surface stability of the fabric. The polymer is suspended within the fabric by adding it to the mix of raw petro-chemical based pellets, pigments and additives, melting the mixture and extruding filaments from the mixture. This method incorporates the polymer into the body of the filaments as they are formed.

The polymer is also suspended within the fabric by injecting an evenly distributed amount of the polymer at an intermediate point as the web of filaments are formed on the conveyor screen As the filaments are thermally fused together with the bonding system, the polymer is trapped within the fused filaments, becoming a component of the finished textile fabric material.

An evenly distributed, measured amount of the polymer can also be attached to textile material by using an adhesive to bond the polymer to a layer of material. These layers of textile material, holding the solidifying polymer within its web of filaments or bonded to the solidifying polymer, are stratified between two layers of textile material forming the outer envelope of the pillow, and seamed within the perimeter of the outer envelope of the pillow. Longitudinal and lateral seams are then added to the pillow to produce the desired quilting effect.

In each instance, the solidifying polymer is stratified and arranged between layers of textile material within the pillow formed by the outer envelope, with additional seams providing a quilting effect for the entire pillow.

The quilting of the pillow creates a series of continuous consolidation points of the internally stratified layers of textile material within the pillow envelope. The textile material absorbs the spilled or leaked liquid hydrocarbons on contact. This action, coupled with the continuous consolidation points of the internal and external layers of textile material and the unique stratification design of the chambered pillow speeds migration of the liquid hydrocarbons through the flow channels created by the quilting seams throughout the interior of the pillow via the capillary attraction of the liquid hydrocarbons to the textile material. The result is a uniform distribution of the liquid hydrocarbons throughout the entire structure of the pillow for absorption and solidification of the liquid hydrocarbons by the alternating layers of solidifying polymer within the stratified layers of the pillow.

Typically, the density and weight of the internal layers of stratified, textile material is substantially less than the density and weight of the textile material used to form the outer envelope of the pillow. This is done to reduce the volume of liquid hydrocarbons that may be retained within the textile material segments of the pillow in the event the volume of the spill the pillow is being used to sorb is in excess of the capacity of the solidifying polymer within the pillow. Pillows fabricated of thinner textile materials of less dense construction characteristically retain a smaller volume of liquid hydrocarbons within the textile material components of the pillow than pillows fabricated using heavier textile materials of greater density.

Chemical composition, thickness and density of the fibers utilized in the composition of a textile material play a critically governing role in controlling the rate of absorption and the ratio of retention of the liquid hydrocarbons being sorbed by the material. Textile materials formed by using a greater density of thicker fibers are sturdier, more resistant to tearing and will sorb and retain greater volumes of liquid hydrocarbons than textile materials composed of thinner fibers or formed in a less dense configuration. Thus, a heavier material is used for the outer envelope to add to the structural integrity and durability of the envelope while lighter textile material is used internally to form the stratified chambers of solidifying polymer. The migration of the sorbed liquid hydrocarbons throughout the interior of the pillow via the capillary attraction of the liquid hydrocarbons to the textile material remains a characteristic while the level of retention of the liquid hydrocarbons diminishes.

Using several modified versions the device presented in accordance with the present invention, a method of employing absorbent devices is provided which will collect, contain, remove and prevent the spread of hydrocarbon spills or leaks in marine fueling facilities and underground storage tank monitor wells.

One such device is used to absorb liquid hydrocarbon fuels and lubricants that are expelled from fuel tank ventilating system or fuel intake port before they can be spilled on the surface of the water. It further will quickly and irreversibly solidify the absorbed liquid hydrocarbons into an easily retrievable solid rubber-like mass.

This device is modified in its fabrication to allow the intersection of the four quadrants of stratified chambers at the center of the pillow to be formed containing no solidifying polymer. In addition, this intersection of the four center quadrants is not fused, creating four distinct, sorbing but non- solidifying segments that can each be folded in a perpendicular angle to the plane of the pillow.

A belt comprised of internal stratified layers of textile material and solidifying polymer is then fabricated in a method similar to the fabrication method used to produce the pillow. The length of the belt is equivalent to the perimeter of the quilted pillow. The belt is joined to the pillow by seaming one edge of the belt to the perimeter edges of the pillow. The resulting object is a five sided box, the open face having a similar area as the surface area of the quilted pillow.

Several of the devices are placed on a vessel's hull prior to commencing fueling operations. One device is positioned so its central section, where the four folding center segments of the device containing no solidifying polymer, is centered over the opened fuel intake port of the vessel. The nozzle at the end of the fuel supply line is passed through the intersection of these segments, folding these portions of the device that contain no solidifying polymer into the vessel's fuel intake line. These sorbing, non-solidifying stratified segments act as wicks to facilitate the migration of any fuel backflow or overflow to the internal chambers of the device via the capillary attraction of the textile material to the liquid hydrocarbons.

Another device is positioned in such a way as to surround the external opening of the fuel tank's ventilation system. Any excess fuel expelled through the ventilation system when the fuel tank reaches capacity during the fueling operation is captured and absorbed by the device. The absorbed hydrocarbons are solidified within the devices into a rubber-like mass. The consolidated mass is contained within the device and is easily handled. The devices can be used in a number of separate fueling activities until the total capacity to absorb and solidify fuels has been reached.

An additional use of the device in a method of preventing the spread of pollution caused by fuel spills is provided by seaming a length of rope into one of the long sides of the outer envelope of the pillow, creating a boatrope effect similar to that used in the production of sails. The boatrope is included in a method of attaching the pillows to the docks and piers of the fueling facility. The pillows are held in place around the perimeter of the fueling facility in a horizontal orientation. This results in a vessel moored in the slip to be fueled to be surrounded by a system of absorbent devices forming an absorbing and solidifying barrier boom to contain any hydrocarbons spilled on the surface of the water during the fueling operation. The pillows are held in place by attaching them to the edge of the fuel dock using a length of boatrope incorporated into the body of the pillows during their fabrication and a length of extrusion attached in a horizontal orientation to the side of the fuel dock at water level. A pillow placed in the extrusion is attached to the adjoining pillows on either side by joining them together by using the grommets installed on each end of the pillows, preventing a gap to form between the pillows and allowing the spill to leak out of the containment area.

In fueling facilities where the dock is designed to float on top of the water and remain in a fairly constant proximity to the water level regardless of fluctuations in water depth due to tides or other factors, the extrusion is attached to the floating fueling facility using adhesives and/or metal fasteners to keep the channel of the extrusion in place in a parallel, horizontal orientation at the surface of the water. This results in the extrusion remaining in the same relative proximity to the surface of the water as the dock.

In fueling facilities where the dock is fixed to piers or other means of support that do not move relative to the fluctuations in water depth caused by tides and other factors, the extrusion is attached to a rigid support device placed in a horizontal orientation, parallel to the surface of the water. The rigid support member is of sufficient buoyancy to allow it to remain floating on top of the water. The support member has a series of horizontally oriented rings attached to it on the side opposite the side the extrusion is attached to. Rigid, vertically oriented tubes, for example, sections of galvanized pipe, are attached to the piers of the dock, passing through the rings on the back side of the rigid support member attached to the extrusion. As the water level fluctuates, the floating rigid support member remains on the surface of the water, held next to the dock by the vertically oriented, rigid tubes passing through the rings on the rigid support member.

The boatrope is sewn into the outer envelope of the pillow. The rope portion of the boatrope is placed in a fold of the textile material comprising the outer envelope, where it is seamed tightly into the fold. This results in the boatrope section of the pillow having a greater diameter than the seamed area between to the boatrope and the body of the pillow. The greater diameter of the boatrope allows the pillow to be held in place with the boatrope in the channel of the extrusion attached to the dock while the smaller diameter of the seamed section of the pillow adjacent to the boatrope extends through the open slit that runs the entire length of the channel of the extrusion. The boatrope will not pass through the open slit in the extrusion.

One end of the boatrope of the pillow is placed in open channel at the end of the extrusion, where the male cross-section of the boatrope slides through the female cross-section of the extrusion channel while the seamed area of the pillow is simultaneously placed in the slit at the end of the extrusion. The pillow is inserted in the extrusion by sliding it horizontally through the extrusion with the boatrope passing through the channel of the extrusion and seamed area of the pillow passing through the slit of the extrusion.

Additional pillows with boatrope sewn into one side are added in a similar manner until the full length of the extrusion has pillows floating on the surface of the water around the inside perimeter of the floating fueling facility. A chain of pillows joined together to form an absorbing and solidifying barrier boom of sufficient length to seal off the open end of the fueling facility can be pulled across the surface of the water and tied in place, completely surrounding the vessel prior to commencing fueling operations. In situations where the fueling facility is part of a dock facility that is not formed as a three sided slip, the barrier boom can be placed on the surface of the water and positioned so as to surround any portion of the vessel being fueled that is not bordered by a section of the dock area equipped with the absorbent devices attached to the extrusion. The ends of the barrier boom are then connected to the ends of the absorbent devices attached to the dock, forming a continuous absorbing and solidifying barrier surrounding the vessel to be fueled. Any hydrocarbons spilled on to the surface of the water can be "herded" to the perimeter of the fueling facility using a stream of water from a hose to allow the spill to be absorbed and solidified prior to removing the free floating pillow and allowing the vessel to depart the fueling facility.

Solidified pillows can be easily extracted from the fueling area and fresh, non-sorbed pillows put in their place. Replacing the solidified pillows removes the spilled hydrocarbons from the water's surface for proper disposal.

For use in a method of remediation of hydrocarbons from underground storage facilities, the device is formed as a vertically oriented sausage-type cylinder with alternating layers of polymer and textile material inside. The cylindrical version of the device is placed inside a canister of screened PVC tubing that is closed on both ends. The PVC canister is placed in a monitor well where it floats on the surface of the water in the well in a vertical orientation. The canister has a tether attached to it so as to be supported from the top of the monitor well. Spilled or leaked hydrocarbons that accumulate on the water's surface within the well are absorbed and solidified when the pollutant seeps through the screened wall of the PVC canister and comes in contact with the cylinder inside it. The cylinder's exterior envelope of textile material absorbs the hydrocarbon, bringing it into contact with the internally stratified layers of polymer and textile material where it is further absorbed and then solidified. The screened PVC canister is removed from the well using the tether. The cylinder of solidified hydrocarbons is removed from the canister and is replaced with an identical new one. The remaining solidified cylinder is then transported to a site for disposal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the first embodiment of the present invention showing its pillow-shaped envelope form and the seams sewn on three sides;

FIG. 1A shows a cross-section of the device depicted in Fig.l, indicating the layers of polymer separated by the polypropylene fabric.

FIG. IB is a top view of a second embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention showing its pillow-shaped envelope form, the seams creating consolidation points of the outer envelope with the internally stratified layers of textile material along the longitudinal and lateral axes of the device, and the seams sewn on four sides;

FIG. 2 is an exploded illustration of the second embodiment of the present invention, showing alternating layers of textile material and solidifying polymer arranged to conform to the desired dimensions of the pillow, and stratified to the desired thickness of the pillow within an outer envelope of textile material;

FIG. 3 shows the detail of the overlook seam used to consolidate the internally stratified layers of textile material with the outer envelope of the pillow and to seal the stratified layers of polymer within the perimeter of the device in Fig. 1 and Fig. IB;

FIG. 4 shows the detail of the seam used along the longitudinal axis and the cross-seams of the pillow to consolidate the internally stratified layers of textile material with the outer envelope of the device in Fig. IB;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of the second embodiment of the present invention, indicating the chambers filled with polymer separated by the textile material and the consolidation of the outer envelope with the internal layers of textile material at the edges and at the seam along the center axis of the pillow;

FIG. 6 is an exploded illustration of a third embodiment of the present invention wherein the polymer is encased in a plurality of rectangular single-layer bags arranged to conform to the desired dimensions of the pillow and stratified to the desired thickness of the pillow with the junctions of the individual polymer-filled bags of each layer being in substantial registration with the corresponding junctions of individual polymer-filled bags of the other layers within an outer envelope of textile material;

FIG. 7 shows a series of polymer-filled and sealed bags of single layer fabrication joined by an ultra-sonic seam. This method of seaming is used to encase the polymer in each of the individual bags, to seal the stratified layers of individual polymer-filled bags within the outer envelope of textile material along the perimeter of the pillow and to create the consolidation seams of the outer envelope of textile material with the substantially registered junctions of the stratified layers of individual polymer-filled bags of the device in Fig. 6;

FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of the third embodiment of the present invention, indicating the stratified layers of individual polymer-filled bags encased within the outer envelope of textile material and the consolidation of the outer envelope with the outer edges and the internal junctions of the substantially registered stratified layers of individual polymer-filled bags;

FIG. 9 is an exploded illustration a fourth embodiment of the present invention wherein layers of textile material, with an evenly distributed, measured amount of polymer suspended within the web of filaments of the textile material, are arranged and stratified to conform to the desired dimensions of the device within an outer envelope of textile material;

FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, indicating the layers of textile material, with an evenly distributed, measured amount of polymer suspended within the web of filaments of the textile material, arranged in stratification within an outer envelope of textile material with the internally stratified layers of textile material and suspended polymer and the outer envelope consolidated by seaming at the edges and along the center axis of the device.

FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention placed over the fuel intake port of a vessel with the nozzle of the fuel supply line passing through the non-solidifying wicking segments at the center of the device with the wicks folded into the fuel intake line of the vessel to sorb any backflow of fuel that may occur. FIG. 12 shows a cut-away view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention placed over the ventilation valve of a vessel's fuel tank, absorbing the spray of fuel that occurs when excess fuel is forced out of the ventilation system when the capacity of the fuel tank is reached.

FIG. 13 shows a larger version of the device depicted in Fig. 12 placed under a cylindrical container to collect, contain and solidify any leaks of the hydrocarbons contained within the cylindrical container.

FIG. 14 shows a version of the device in Fig. 13, placed and secured to the bottom of an electric transformer mounted on a utility pole, to collect, contain and solidify any leaks of the hydrocarbons contained within the transformer.

FIG. 15 is a top view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention showing its pillow-shaped envelope form with the boatrope sewn into the body of the outer envelope along one side, the seams creating consolidation points of the outer envelope with the internally stratified layers of textile material along the longitudinal and lateral axes of the device and the seams sewn on four sides;

FIG. 16 shows a cross-section of the extrusion, indicating the channel to contain the boatrope portion of the device depicted in Fig. 15, the edges of the channel that allow the seamed portion of the device depicted in Fig. 15 to pass through the extrusion and the vertical tabs used to attach the fueling facility.

FIG. 17 shows a vessel in a fueling slip, surrounded by an arrangement of the pillows depicted in Fig. 15 attached to the dock and finger piers defining the fueling slip and a chain of solidifying pillows joined together to form a spill containment boom placed across the open end of the slip.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the seventh embodiment of the present invention in which a cut-away view of the device, formed as a cylinder, is shown, indicating the alternating stratified layers of polymer and textile material within;

FIG. 19 is a cut-away view of a screened PVC canister containing the device depicted in Fig. 18;

FIG. 20 shows the screened canister containing the cylinder, depicted in Fig. 19, suspended from the cap of a monitor well by the tether inside the screened well casing in the ground, floating on top of the ground water.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, an absorbent device 1 in accordance with the present invention is shown in a pillow-shaped configuration having an envelope 2 with seaming of three of the four sides 2a, 2b and 2c. This seam is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the cross-section of the pillow prior to closure at seam 2c reveals the stratification design of the pillow which is formed by stacking pieces of fabric and folding them over at points 6, 7 and 8. The pieces are then joined using an overlook seam 2a and 2b on two sides, resulting in chambers 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 arranged one on top of another and enclosed by a common outer envelope layer 2. FIG. 1A shows the effect of alternate multi-layering of polypropylene fabric layers 9, 10, 11 and 12 to form chambers 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the pillow is seamed shut 2c on the open end used to introduce the polymer to each of the chambers of the pillow. The fabric layers are consolidated at the seams 2a, 2b and 2c. This allows hydrocarbons that come in contact with the outer layer of fabric 2 to migrate via the seams 2a, 2b and 2c under capillary attraction to the interior layers of fabric 9, 10, 11 and 12 and propagate throughout the pillow.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment directed to boat bilges and the like, the pillow envelope 2 measures 17" x 6" x 1/4". Each pillow chamber contains approximately 0.8 ounces by weight of the absorbent and solidifying polymer material for an approximate total weight of four ounces of polymer in the pillow. The polymer material is preferably an organic elastomer polymer, such as polynorbornene, sold under the trademarks Waste-Set 3200, Waste-Set 3400, Nochar A610, Nochar A650, Enviro-Bond 403, Norsorex APX1, H-100 Environmental Spill Encapsulant or an equivalent.

In FIG. IB, an absorbent device 20 in accordance with the present invention is shown in a pillow-shaped configuration formed by an envelope 22 with seaming of the four sides 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d. This seam is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. A longitudinal seam 26 is shown sewn along the center axis of the pillow, and lateral seams 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, 28e, 28f, and 28g are shown sewn at evenly spaced intervals from one side of the pillow to the opposite side of the pillow and crossing the longitudinal seam along the center axis seam of the pillow in a perpendicular orientation. These seams are shown in greater detail in Fig. 4. Grommets 30 and 32 are placed on the longitudinal seam along the center axis seam of the pillow on each end of the pillow, providing an attachment point to allow the user to tether the device in place or serve as a connecting point with other pillows to form a continuous boom.

FIG. 2 is an exploded illustration of the device illustrated in Fig. IB, showing alternating layers of textile material 34 and 36 and solidifying polymer 38, 40, and 42 in a stratified arrangement between the layers of textile material 22 comprising the outer envelope of the device.

FIG. 5, a cross-section of the device depicted in Fig. IB prior to closure at seam 24d, reveals the stratification design of the pillow achieved by stacking pieces of textile material 34 and 36 within envelope 22 and seaming them at points 24a, 24b and 24c using the overlook seam illustrated in Fig 3. The resulting pockets are arranged one on top of another and enclosed by envelope 22. Next, a seam 26 is sewn along the center axis of the pillow, providing a line of additional consolidating points of the internally stratified layers of textile material with the outer envelope of the pillow along its longitudinal axis and creating two columns of pockets within the device. These pockets are then filled with polymer and sealed into the body of the pillow, resulting in an arrangement of stratified polymer-filled chambers.

The polymer is inserted into the device by placing a measured amount of the polymer in each pocket at the open end of the device and allowing the polymer to drop through the pockets until it is contained by seam 24b. The polymer is then sealed in the pockets with lateral seam 28a, sewn from seam 24a to seam 24c and crossing seam 26 at a perpendicular angle. Seam 28a seals the polymer into chambers and creates an additional line of consolidation points of the layers of textile material. The sealing of the polymer into chambers results in an even distribution of the polymer throughout the device as it prevents loose polymer from migrating throughout the body of the device and clustering in a few areas.

The filling process is repeated, allowing the polymer to drop through the pockets until it is contained by seam 28a with seam 28b sewn to form the next section of stratified polymer- filled chambers. The process is repeated until the last section of pockets is filled with polymer. The last section of polymer- filled chambers and the pillow is seamed shut by seam 24d.

The internally stratified layers of textile material are consolidated with the outer envelope of the pillow at the seams 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d around the perimeter of the pillow, and at seams 26, 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, 28e, 28f, and 28g along the longitudinal and lateral axes of the device. This allows liquid hydrocarbons that come in contact with the outer envelope layers of textile material 22 to migrate via the seams 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 26, 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, 28e, 28f, and 28g under capillary attraction to the interior layers of textile material 34 and 36 and propagate throughout the pillow.

In accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention directed to containment sumps and the like, the pillow envelope 22 measures 48" x 6" x 1/4". Each pillow chamber contains approximately 8 grams by weight of the solidifying polymer material for an approximate total weight of 384 grams of polymer in the pillow. The textile material is preferably a petro-chemical based fabric such as polypropylene, polyester or nylon. The polymer material is preferably an organic elastomer polymer sold under the trademarks Waste-Set 3200, Waste-Set 3400, Nochar A610, Nochar A650, Enviro-Bond 403, Norsorex APX1, H-100 Environmental Spill Encapsulant or an equivalent.

FIG. 6 is an exploded illustration of a third embodiment of the present invention showing stratified layers of individual polymer-filled bags 44, 46 and 48 in a stratified arrangement within the textile material outer envelope 22a.

In accordance with a modification of the third embodiment, the outer envelope 22a of the device can be eliminated from the structure. If this form of the third embodiment depicted in Fig. 6 is implemented, the typical density of the material for the individual bags may be on the order of 2.0 ounce. A suitable material for use is polypropylene or a similar synthetic fabric. Thus, with reference to Fig. 6, the modified device would include the layers of individual polymer-filled bags 44, 46 and 48 in the same stratified arrangement, but without the layers of textile material forming the outer envelope. Of course, the consolidation and seaming of the stratified layers that results in a quilting effect (see Fig. 8) remains applicable to the modified third embodiment without an outer layer.

Referring to FIG. 7, a series of polymer-filled and sealed bags of single layer textile material is shown joined by ultra¬ sonic seams 50. This method of seaming is used to encase the polymer in each of the individual bags, to seal the stratified layers of individual polymer-filled bags within the outer envelope of textile material along the perimeter of the pillow and to create the consolidation seams of the outer envelope of textile material with the substantially registered junctions of the stratified layers of individual polymer-filled bags of the device in Fig. 6;

Referring to FIG. 8, the cross-section of the third embodiment of the present invention prior to closure at seam 52d reveals the stratification design of the pillow achieved by stratifying layers of individual polymer-filled bags 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 between outer envelope of textile material 22a. The ultra-sonic seam illustrated in Fig. 7 is used to consolidate the outer edges of the internal layers of polymer-filled bags with the outer edges of the textile material forming the outer envelope of the device along seams 52a, 52b and 52c. Seam 66 is sewn along the center axis of the pillow and seams 68a, 68b, 68c, 68d, 68e, 68f and 68g are sewn laterally across the pillow to consolidate the outer envelope layers with the internal layers along the junctions of the substantially registered stratified layers of individual polymer-filled bags.

FIG. 8 shows the effect of the stratified layering of individual polymer-filled bags 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 between the outer envelope of textile material 22a and the consolidation of the layers along seams 52a, 52b, 52c, 66, 68a, 68b, 68c, 68d, 68e, 68f and 68g to form an arrangement of polymer-filled chambers within the body of the device. The internally stratified layers of individual polymer-filled bags are consolidated with the outer envelope of the pillow at the seams 52a, 52b, 52c and 52d around the perimeter of the pillow, and at seams 66, 68a, 68b, 68c, 68d, 68e, 68f and 68g along the longitudinal and lateral axes of the device. These seams allow liquid hydrocarbons that come in contact with the outer envelope of textile material 22a to migrate via the seams 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 66, 68a, 68b, 68c, 68d, 68e, 68f, and 68g under capillary attraction to the interior layers of individual polymer-filled bags 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 and propagate throughout the pillow.

In accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention directed to containment sumps and the like, the pillow envelope 22a measures 48" x 6" x 1/4". Each pillow chamber contains approximately 12 grams by weight of the solidifying polymer material for an approximate total weight of 864 grams of polymer in the pillow. The textile material is preferably a petro-chemical based fabric such as polypropylene, polyester or nylon. The polymer material is preferably an organic elastomer polymer sold under the trademarks Waste-Set 3200, Waste-Set 3400, Nochar A610, Nochar A650, Enviro-Bond 403, Norsorex APX1, H-100 Environmental Spill Encapsulant or an equivalent.

FIG. 9 is an exploded illustration of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, showing layers of solidifying polymer suspended in textile material 72, 73 and 74 in a stratified arrangement between the layers of textile material 22c comprising the outer envelope of the device.

In accordance with a modification of the fourth embodiment, the outer envelope 22c of the device can be eliminated from the structure. If this form of the fourth embodiment is implemented, the typical density of any single layer of polymer suspended in textile material may be on the order of 2.0 ounce. A suitable material for use is polypropylene or a similar synthetic fabric. Thus, with reference to Fig. 9, the modified device would include the layers of polymer suspended in textile material 72, 73 and 74 in the same stratified arrangement, but without the layers of textile material forming the outer envelope. Of course, the consolidation and seaming of the stratified layers that results in a quilting effect (see Fig. 10) remains applicable to the modified fourth embodiment without an outer layer.

FIG. 10, the cross-section of the fourth embodiment of the present invention prior to closure at seam 76d reveals the stratification design of the pillow achieved by stratifying layers of polymer suspended in textile material 72, 73 and 74 within outer envelope of textile material 22c and seaming them at points 76a, 76b and 76c using the overlock seam illustrated in Fig. 3. Seam 78 is sewn along the center axis of the pillow, providing a line of additional consolidating points of the internally stratified layers of polymer suspended in textile material with the outer envelope of the pillow along its longitudinal axis and creating two columns of internally stratified layers of polymer suspended in textile material 72, 73 and 74 within the device. FIG. 10 shows the effect of the stratified layering of polymer suspended in textile material 72, 73 and 74 between the outer envelope of textile material 22c and the consolidation of the layers along seams 76a, 76b, 76c and 78, 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d, 80e, 80f and 80g to form an arrangement of polymer-filled chambers within the body of the device.

These seams allow liquid hydrocarbons that come in contact with the outer envelope layers 22c to migrate via the seams 76a, 76b, 76c, 76d, 78, 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d, 80e, 80f and 80g under capillary attraction to the interior stratified layers of polymer suspended in textile material 72, 73 and 74, and propagate throughout the pillow.

In accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention directed to containment sumps and the like, the pillow envelope 22c measures 48" x 6" x 1/4". Each layer of polymer suspended in textile material contains approximately 128 grams by weight of the solidifying polymer material for an approximate total weight of 384 grams of polymer in the pillow. The textile material is preferably a petro-chemical based fabric such as polypropylene, polyester or nylon. The polymer material is preferably an organic elastomer polymer sold under the trademarks Waste-Set 3200, Waste-Set 3400, Nochar A610, Nochar A650, Enviro- Bond 403, Norsorex APX1, H-100 Environmental Spill Encapsulant or an equivalent.

Ambient temperature and the viscosity of the liquid hydrocarbon to be solidified are the two most critical factors in determining the rate of absorption and the amount of time required to solidify the broad spectrum of liquid hydrocarbons this invention is designed to contain for removal and disposal. To enhance the polymer's effective interaction with pollutants, the pillow's construction utilizes the layering of polymer material and textile material to control the rate of absorption and solidification.

The effectiveness of a pillow constructed in accordance with the present invention is further enhanced with the addition of quilting seams. The consolidation of the internal layers of textile material within the outer envelope speeds migration of the liquid hydrocarbons throughout the interior stratified layers of the pillow via the capillary attraction of the liquid hydrocarbons to the textile material. The lateral seams may also be oriented at an oblique angle to the center axis of the pillow. In either case, a quilted effect is achieved. Also, instead of a longitudinal center axis seam, a plurality of parallel longitudinal seams could be used. Further, the quilting effect may be achieved using a plurality of seams criss-crossing at oblique angles to one another so as to form the pockets in a diamond-shape rather than square or rectangular shapes.

The stratification design allows for optimum efficiency in utilizing the solidifying properties of the polymer. Very light viscosity liquid hydrocarbons react almost instantaneously with the polymer and are exposed to no more polymer than can be fully utilized for absorption and solidification. Stratification promotes rapid migration of light viscosity liquid hydrocarbons throughout the interior of the pillow while slowing migration of the liquid hydrocarbon through the outer surface envelope area and exposure to the polymer. The extremely rapid reaction between the light viscosity liquid hydrocarbon and the polymer could otherwise result in the loose polymer located within the volume of the pillow being surrounded by a non-permeable rubber shell. The resulting surface blockage would thereby prevent the enclosed polymer from being used to solidify additional liquid hydrocarbons.

In addition, the stratification design allows the heavier viscosity liquid hydrocarbons that migrate through the layers of textile material to be suspended inside the pillow awaiting the polymer to absorb them and begin the solidification process. The properties of the textile material that allow for rapid absorption and migration of all viscosities of liquid hydrocarbons effectively give the device maximum surface area exposure of the polymer through the stratification design.

FIG. 11 depicts a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The device is shown in a square-shaped configuration having an outer envelope 82 pillow with longitudinal seams 84a and 84c running parallel to the longitudinal seam 84b along the center axis of the pillow. These seams perpendicularly intersect lateral seams 86a, 86b and 86c. A belt 88 comprised of internal stratified layers of textile material and solidifying polymer is then fabricated in a method similar to the fabrication method used to produce the pillow. The length of the belt is equivalent to the perimeter of the quilted pillow. Both ends of the belt are joined together at seam 90 before it is joined to the pillow by seaming one edge of the belt to the perimeter edges of the pillow at seam 92. The resulting object is a five sided box, the open face having a similar area as the surface area of the square quilted pillow. The quilted pillow and belt are fabricated using the methods detailed in the second, third and fourth embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

Quadrants 94, 96, 98 and 100 at the center of the device are not seamed together where they intersect each other. This separation of the four central stratified quadrants of the device allows these corners 94a, 96a, 98a and 100a, which contain no polymer, to serve as wicks that are forced into the fuel intake port, along with the nozzle of the fuel supply line, to sorb any backflow of fuel that may occur. The fuel sorbed by these wicks then migrates throughout the stratified layers of the device via capillary attraction of liquid hydrocarbons to the textile material for solidification. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the device is shown placed over the fuel intake port of a vessel with the nozzle 102 of the fuel supply line passing through the non-solidifying "wick" segments 94a, 96a, 98a and 100a at the center of the device, forcing the wicks into the fuel intake line of the vessel to sorb any backflow of fuel that may occur. The belt 88 added to the edge of the pillow contains any overflow that may occur, preventing it from spilling on to the surface of the water.

FIG. 12 depicts a cut-away view of the device 110 placed against the hull of a vessel 104, covering the ventilation valve 106, installed on the side of the hull as a means of ventilating the vessel's fuel tank. The spray of fuel 108, that occurs when excess fuel is forced out of the fuel tank's ventilation system when its capacity is reached, is shown inside the cut-away view of the device. This device is similar to the device depicted in Fig. 11 except quadrants 94, 96, 98 and 100 at the center of the device may be seamed together where they intersect each other.

FIG. 13 shows a larger version of the device depicted in Fig. 12, constructed as a square pan 113 andplaced under a cylindrical container 112 to collect, contain and solidify any spills or leaks of the hydrocarbons.

FIG. 14 shows a version of the device in Fig. 13, constructed as a round pan 118 placed and secured to the bottom of an electric transformer 114 mounted on a utility pole 116, to collect, contain and solidify any leaks of the hydrocarbons contained within the transformer.

In accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention directed to fuel tank ventilation systems and intake ports, the pillow envelope 82 measures 12" x 12" x 3". The pillow may be fabricated using the methods detailed in the second, third and fourth embodiments in accordance with the present invention. Each chamber of the pillow and belt contains approximately 10 grams by weight of the solidifying polymer material for an approximate total weight of 600 grams of polymer in the device. The textile material is preferably a petro¬ chemical based fabric such as polypropylene, polyester or nylon. The polymer material is preferably an organic elastomer polymer sold under the trademarks Waste-Set 3200, Waste-Set 3400, Nochar A610, Nochar A650, Enviro-Bond 403, Norsorex APX1, H-100 Environmental Spill Encapsulant or an equivalent.

FIG. 15 depicts an absorbent device 120 having a length of boatrope 122 attached thereto. The device is otherwise identical in structure to that depicted in Fig. IB.

FIG. 16 depicts a cross-section view of the extrusion used to hold device 120 in place on the water's surface around the edges of a fuel dock. The channel 124 is of a sufficient diameter to accommodate the boatrope 122 sewn into the outer envelope of device 120. The opening on the outer side of the channel 127, running the length of the extrusion between edges 126 and 128, allows the seamed area between the body of the pillow and the boatrope to pass through the extrusion as it is slid into place. Vertical tabs 130 and 132 are used to secure the extrusion to the dock.

FIG. 17 is a view of a vessel 134 moored in a fuel slip. The vessel is surrounded by an arrangement of pillows 136 held in place on the surface of the water 138 by lengths of extrusion 140 attached to the dock 142. A chain of solidifying pillows 136a is shown in place on the surface of the water across the open end of the fuel slip. The chain of pillows 136a is connected on each end to the arrangement of pillows 136 held in place by the extrusion attached to the dock, forming an absorbing and solidifying barrier boom, completely surrounding the vessel to be fueled. In accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention depicted in Fig. 17 and directed to fueling facility spill containment systems, the pillow envelope measures 48" x 6" x 1/4". The pillow may be fabricated using the methods detailed in the second, third and fourth embodiments in accordance with the present invention. Each pillow chamber contains approximately 12 grams by weight of the solidifying polymer material for an approximate total weight of 864 grams of polymer in the pillow. The textile material is preferably a petro¬ chemical based fabric such as polypropylene, polyester or nylon. The polymer material is preferably an organic elastomer polymer sold under the trademarks Waste-Set 3200, Waste-Set 3400, Nochar A610, Nochar A650, Enviro-Bond 403, Norsorex APX1, H-100 Environmental Spill Encapsulant or an equivalent.

In FIG. 18, an absorbent device 144 in accordance with the present invention is shown revealing the stratification design inside a cylinder of textile material. The cylinder is formed from an outer envelope of textile material 146 seamed on three sides 148a, 148b and 148c. This seam is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3.

The cross-section of the cylinder in FIG. 18 revealing the stratification design formed by placing polymer 150 in the open end of the outer envelope of the cylinder 146 prior to it being seamed shut at seam 148c. A flat circular piece of textile material shaped as a disk 152 to conform to the internal dimensions of the cylinder is placed on top of the polymer in a horizontal orientation. This structure is repeated, alternating polymer 150 and disks 152, until the cylinder is filled with the stratified configuration of polymer and disks. The open end of the cylinder is then sewn shut at seam 148c.

As shown in FIG. 19, the device 144 is placed inside the screened PVC canister 154 to allow the cylinder to be introduced to the pollutants floating on the water in a monitor well. The canister's bottom 156 is shown prior to it being attached to the screened PVC canister. The top 158 of the canister is shown, with the eye attachment 160 for the tether and the male threads 162 used to attach it to the screened body of the canister via its matching female threads 164. The canister 154 has pores 165.

The layers of polymer 150 and disks 152 contact the outer envelope of cylinder 146 around the full circumference of the intersections of each of these layers with the outer envelope, allowing hydrocarbons that come in contact with the outer envelope of cylinder to migrate via these contact areas, under capillary attraction, to the internal stratified layers and to propagate throughout the cylinder. The canister 154 can be lowered into a monitor well using with a tether attached to the eye attachment 160. Hydrocarbons in the monitor well will be absorbed by the device 144, thus serving as means for extracting hydrocarbons from the monitor well.

Referring to FIG. 20, a cut-away section of the screened well casing in the ground 166 reveals the screened PVC canister, containing the stratified cylinder floating on the surface of the ground water in the monitor well. The screened PVC canister 168, is secured by a tether 169 to the well cap 170, shown set in place in the monitor well opening 171. The manhole cover 172 is set in place, covering the manhole opening 173 and is flush at grade with the concrete apron around the monitor well 174.

In accordance with the seventh embodiment of the present invention in Fig. 19 directed to monitor wells and the like, the outer envelope of the cylinder 146 measures 12" x 2". The cylinder may be fabricated using the methods detailed in the second, third and fourth embodiments in accordance with the present invention, any method. Each cylinder chamber contains approximately 0.1 ounce by weight of the absorbent and solidifying polymer material for an approximate total weight of six ounces of polymer in the cylinder. The textile material is preferably a petro-chemical based fabric such as polypropylene, polyester or nylon. The polymer material is preferably an organic elastomer polymer sold under the trademarks Waste-Set 3200, Waste-Set 3400, Nochar A610, Nochar A650, Enviro-Bond 403, Norsorex APX1, H-100 Environmental Spill Encapsulant or an equivalent.

Additional applications of the invention include, but are not limited to, the collection, containment and removal of leaked and spilled hydrocarbons in fueling facilities for vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, aircraft, barges and storage containers of liquid hydrocarbons. The device may be utilized in a method of collection, containment and extraction of hydrocarbons from the sumps and collection pits of water run-off in aviation, barge, rail and trucking terminals. The device can also be placed under items such as electric utility transformers, petrochemical plant and pipeline storage units, vehicles, engines or pieces of machinery that are leaking hydrocarbons to collect, contain and solidify leaks and spills as they occur. Pipeline, petrochemical, transportation and utility companies handling hydrocarbons as fuels, lubricants and coolants, as well as municipal entities charged with eliminating petrochemical spills, may utilize the device as a containment and clean-up option.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment has been for the purpose of explanation and illustration. Certain applications of the invention may require the use of a varied amount of stratified layers of textile and polymer material. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and changes can be made in the structure without departing from the essence of the present invention. Therefore, it is contemplated that the appended claims will cover any modifications or embodiments which fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A hydrocarbon absorbent device comprising:

an outer envelope of polypropylene fabric;

a plurality of stacked layers of polypropylene fabric disposed within the envelope and forming a plurality of chambers in stratification with each of said chambers containing polynorbornene therein, said plurality of stacked fabric layers dispersively conducting liquid hydrocarbons under capillary attraction throughout the interior of the envelope for absorption and solidification by the polynorbornene material; and

a seam joinder of the envelope and the stacked layers.

2. A liquid hydrocarbon absorbent device comprising:

a pillow having a plurality of chambers formed in stratification therein by internal layers of textile material;

a polymer material disposed in the chambers having a property of acting to absorb and solidify liquid hydrocarbon substances coming into contact with the pillow and migrating to its interior; and

a plurality of quilting seams in the pillow defining a multiplicity of hydrocarbon absorption consolidation points therein and subdividing each chamber into distinct hydrocarbon absorption units within the pillow.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said plurality of quilting seams includes:

a seam extending longitudinally along the center axis of the pillow; and

a plurality of seams extending laterally across the pillow from one side to the opposite side and crossing the center axis seam.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the pillow is rectangular and the seam joinder extends along four contiguous sides.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the polymer material is an organic elastomer polymer.

6. A liquid hydrocarbon absorbent device comprising:

a plurality of chambers formed in stratification by layers of textile material;

a polymer material disposed in the chambers having a characteristic of substantially absorbing and solidifying liquid hydrocarbon substances;

a series of seams located longitudinally along the center axis of the layers of textile material and laterally in a perpendicular orientation to the center axis of the layers of textile material to form consolidation points of the layers that expose them to contact with liquid hydrocarbon substances and thereby promote migration of liquid hydrocarbons under capillary attraction to the chambers for absorption and solidification by said polymer material; and a seam joinder of the peripheries of the layers to promote migration of liquid hydrocarbons under capillary attraction to the chambers.

7. A liquid hydrocarbon absorbent device comprising:

a pillow having a plurality of stacked layers of textile material forming a plurality of chambers in stratification therein, said plurality of stacked textile material layers dispersively conducting liquid hydrocarbons under capillary attraction into the interior of the pillow;

a polymer material disposed in the chambers having a characteristic of substantially absorbing and solidifying liquid hydrocarbon substances; and

a series of seams formed in the pillow, some of which are located longitudinally along the center axis of the pillow and others of which are located laterally in a perpendicular orientation to the center axis of the pillow, the seams providing consolidation points of the stacked layers of textile material so as to promote the dispersion of liquid hydrocarbons substantially throughout the interior of the pillow.

8. The device of claim 7 further comprising:

a seam joinder of the stacked layers of textile material around their periphery.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the polymer material is an organic elastomer polymer.

10. A liquid hydrocarbon absorbent device comprising:

a pillow having a plurality of stacked layers of individual polymer-filled bags therein forming a plurality of internal stratified hydrocarbon absorption and solidification chambers, the bags being arranged side- by-side in a matrix in each stacked layer; and

a pattern of seams formed in the pillow so as to be in substantial registration with the side-by-side intersections of the individual polymer-filled bags, the seams providing consolidation points of the internally stratified chambers so as to dispersively conduct liquid hydrocarbons under capillary attraction substantially throughout the interior of the pillow for absorption and solidification by the polymer material.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising:

a seam joinder of the stacked layers of polymer-filled bags around their periphery.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the polymer material is an organic elastomer polymer.

13. A liquid hydrocarbon absorbent device comprising:

a pillow having a plurality of stacked layers of textile material, said plurality of stacked layers of textile material forming a plurality of chambers in stratification so as to dispersively conducting liquid hydrocarbons under capillary attraction substantially throughout the interior of the pillow for absorption and solidification by the polymer material; a polymer material contained within the pillow to absorb and solidify liquid hydrocarbon substances, said polymer material being suspended within the fibers of the textile material; and

a series of seams formed in the pillow, some of which are located substantially longitudinally along the center axis of the pillow and others of which are located substantially laterally in a perpendicular orientation to the center axis of the pillow, the seams providing consolidation points of the internally stratified chambers so as to promote dispersion of liquid hydrocarbons throughout the interior of the pillow to the polymer material.

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising:

a seam joinder of the stacked layers of polymer suspended within the textile material around their periphery.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the polymer material is an organic elastomer polymer.

16. A method to prevent the spilling or leaking hydrocarbons on to the surface of the water during marine vessel fueling by containing, collecting and removing the hydrocarbons at the source of the spills or leaks, comprising the steps of:

providing an absorbent device having an outer envelope layer of textile material, a plurality of chambers formed in stratification therein by internal layers of textile material with a polymer material disposed in the chambers of the device having a property of acting to absorb and solidify liquid hydrocarbon substances coming into contact with the device and migrating to its interior, and a plurality of quilting seams formed in the device to define hydrocarbon absorption consolidation points within the device and establish the chambers of distinct hydrocarbon absorption units within the device; said device being formed in a five sided box with the four central quadrants being separated to allow them to act as flexible wicking segments;

placing the absorbent device over the fuel intake port of a vessel before inserting the nozzle of the fuel supply line into the fuel intake port, prior to commencing fueling of the vessel;

placing an absorbent device over the external end of the ventilation system of the vessel's fuel tank prior to commencing fueling of the vessel;

allowing hydrocarbons spilled or leaked during the fueling of the vessel to be absorbed and solidified as they come in contact with the absorbent devices;

removing any absorbent devices containing solidified hydrocarbons from the fuel tank intake port and the external opening of the fuel tank's ventilation system at the end of the fueling operation; and

disposing of the used absorbent devices.

17. A method of containing, collecting and removing hydrocarbons from the surface of the water in marine fueling facilities, comprising the steps of:

providing an absorbent device having an outer envelope of textile material with a section of boatrope integrated into the body of the outer envelope along one edge, a plurality of chambers formed in stratification therein by internal layers of textile material with a polymer material disposed in the chambers of the device having a property of acting to absorb and solidify liquid hydrocarbon substances coming into contact with the device and migrating to its interior, and a plurality of quilting seams formed in the device to define hydrocarbon absorption consolidation points within the device and establish the chambers as distinct hydrocarbon absorption units within the device;

placing the absorbent device along the dock portion of a fueling facility by connecting a boatrope portion of the device to a length of extrusion attached to the dock at water level of a fueling facility;

placing additional absorbent devices in the extrusion and joining their ends to form a continuous barrier of absorbing and solidifying devices along the edge of the dock portion of the fueling facility;

surrounding all portions of a vessel in a fueling facility not bordered by a section of the docking area equipped with the absorbent devices attached to the extrusion with a chain of the absorbent devices connected to form a floating boom of absorbing and solidifying devices on the surface of the water, said boom being connected to the absorbent devices attached to the dock in such a way so as to effectively surround any vessel in the fueling facility with a continuous absorbing and solidifying barrier; allowing hydrocarbons on the surface of the water to be absorbed and solidified as they come in contact with the absorbent devices;

removing any absorbent devices containing solidified hydrocarbons from the extrusion attached to the dock of the fueling facility or from the chain of devices forming the boom;

replacing the absorbent devices containing the solidified hydrocarbons with fresh absorbent devices having a capacity to absorb and solidify hydrocarbons; and

disposing of the replaced absorbent devices.

18. A monitor well remediation device comprising:

a screened canister adapted for placement in an underground monitor well located proximate a fueling facility storage tank, said canister permitting an absorbent device to be put into and taken from the canister;

an absorbent device carried within the canister, said device being a cylindrical-shaped envelope of textile material having a plurality of internal chambers formed in stratification along its length by a plurality of stacked layers of textile material dispersively conducting liquid hydrocarbons under capillary attraction throughout the interior of the envelope, each chamber containing therein a polymer material that acts to absorb and solidify liquid hydrocarbon substances passing to the interior of the canister and coming into contact with the envelope and migrating to its interior; and a tether connected to the canister to permit the canister to be lowered into and raised from within the monitor well.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the absorbent device is substantially cylindrical in shape and includes a plurality of internal chambers formed along its length with each chamber having an amount of polymer material therein.

20. A method of collecting and removing hydrocarbons from an underground monitor well located proximate a fueling facility storage tank, comprising the stages of:

providing an absorbent device having an exterior envelope of textile material containing therein a polymer material that acts to absorb and solidify liquid hydrocarbon substances that come into contact with the envelope;

placing the absorbent device within a screened canister adapted to be placed within the bore of the monitor well;

tethering the screened canister for controlling lowering and raising within the monitor well;

lowering the canister into the monitor well to the surface level of any liquid collected in the well;

allowing hydrocarbons on the surface of the collected liquid to be absorbed and solidified as they pass through the screened canister and into contact with the absorbent device;

removing the canister from the monitor well; replacing the absorbent device containing the solidified hydrocarbons from the canister; and

disposing of the replaced absorbent device.