Coastal environmentalists keep sorbent mats in their oil spill kits, but what goes on at sea to remo...

1. Alternative Oil Cleanup Methods for Cleaning Oil Spills in
Water
Coastal environmentalists keep sorbent mats in their oil spill kits, but what goes on at sea to remove
or clean up oil spills? Alternative oil cleanup methods like in-situ burning, the use of human hair
mats and even feathers have been used for oil spill cleanup.
Oil Containment Booms and Oil Skimmers
According to the Environmental Protection Agency's "Understanding Oil Spills" (Epa.gov) and Oil
Spill Response, December of 1999, the first course of action when an oil spill occurs is to use a
floating barrier called a containment boom. These keep the oil from spreading further out into the
sea until it can be removed by other means. Because the water conditions at sea are difficult to
control, this oil spill containment tray is simply a temporary measure, until the oil can be skimmed
away, diverted, dispersed or otherwise removed.
Since oil floats, the next means of controlling oil spills comes in the form of oil skimmers. These
devices come in many forms and are designed to lift the oil from the top surface of the water, to be
transported to a safer location.
Natural Oil Spill Cleanup Materials

2. Once the bulk of the oil has been contained and removed, sorbents (short for absorbent) are applied
to the surface of the water. The best sorbents are those that attract oil and repel water. Matter of
trust is a US company that makes sorbent mats out of donated human hair, for cleaning up oil spills.
Other materials may also be used, like sheep's wool, corn cobs, peat moss, sawdust, straw, hay and
feathers.
Dispersing Agents and Biologic Agents for Removing Oil
The use of dispersant chemicals to remove oil from waterways is hotly debated. Some of these
chemicals are quite toxic, but the affect they have upon wildlife, compared to the damage an oil spill
can cause, has not been established. Their use is limited because of the controversy (EPA).
Biologic agents that "digest" oil in the water, are also hot topics. Enzymes and microorganisms that
consume oil are used in bioremediation techniques like bioaugmentation and biostimulation.
Burning the Oil Spill
Under very specific conditions, and with the approval of several authorities, oil spills are sometimes
burned away (EPA). The environmental impact is taken into consideration, and it's used most often
as a last-ditch effort. In-situ burning is rarely used for controlling marine spillage, because of its
negative impact on ocean life.
Disaster cleanup isn't likely a topic that comes up at the dinner table, but for coastal families dealing
with an offshore oil spill, oil spill kits are a wise investment. Knowing how the EPA handles oil spills
can help citizens take helpful action.
About the author
Lisa Russell
Lisa Russell is a freelance writer and mom of six
daughters. She blogs about their life at
lisarussell.org
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