Textile barrier for containment of liquid hydrocarbons

Abstract

A water permeable and liquid hydrocarbon-impermeable textile barrier is provided. The textile barrier consists of a textile material as a substrate layer, a layer of a hydrophobic organic chemical swellable in liquid hydrocarbons and a cover layer consisting of a textile material. All three layers are combined together by the needlepunching process in a needle loom. The textile barrier does not significantly obstruct flow of water. The textile barrier allows water to freely drain through.

1 . A water permeable and liquid hydrocarbon-impermeable textile for use in the containment of liquid hydrocarbons comprising a substrate layer, a layer of swellable organic chemical, and a cover layer, wherein at least one of the substrate layer and the cover layer comprise a non-woven textile material.  
   
   
       2 . The textile of  claim 1  wherein the substrate layer, layer of swellable organic chemical, and cover layer are joined together by needlepunching.  
   
   
       3 . The textile of  claim 1 , wherein the non-woven textile material is combined by chemical, thermal or mechanical bonding with one or more woven or knitted textile materials.  
   
   
       4 . The textile of  claim 1 , wherein the non-woven textile material has a surface weight in the range from 10 g/m 2  to 1,000 g/m 2  and a thickness from 0.1 to 10 mm.  
   
   
       5 . The textile of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the substrate layer and cover layer consists of non-biodegradable synthetic or mineral fiber or filaments.  
   
   
       6 . The textile of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the substrate layer and cover layer is made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester PET, polyester PBT, or polyacrylonitrile PAN fibers.  
   
   
       7 . The textile of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the substrate layer and cover layer is made of inorganic mineral fibers.  
   
   
       8 . The textile of  claim 8  wherein the inorganic mineral fibers are selected from the group consisting of glass, ceramic and basalt.  
   
   
       9 . The textile of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of swellable organic chemical is uniformly distributed and the surface density of the swellable organic chemical is in the range from 10 g/m 2  to 5,000 g/m 2 .  
   
   
       10 . The textile of  claim 1 , wherein the swellable organic chemical is selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic swellable polymer from a group of hydrogenated poly(styrene-isoprene)(SEP copolymer); hydrophobic swellable polymer from a group of hydrogenated poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene) (SEPS copolymer); hydrophobic swellable polymer from a group of hydrogenated poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene)(SEBS copolymer); hydrophobic swellable polymer from a group of hydrogenated poly(styrene-isoprene/butadiene-styrene) (copolymer SEEPS); hydrophobic swellable polymer from a group of EPDM rubbers in powdered or granular form; aluminum soaps of naphtenic and palmitic acids, preferably aluminum octoate in powdered or granular form; modified polyamide hydrocarbon gallants and resin blends, preferably industrial gallants and resins manufactured by Arizona Chemical and sold under the trademarks UNICLEAR, SYLVAGEL, SYLVACLEAR and SYLVACOTE in powder or granular form; and a mixture of all the above in any proportion.  
   
   
       11 . The textile of  claim 1  wherein the swellable organic chemical further comprises at least one of inert particle separating, inorganic, organic solid, and liquid chemicals to prevent agglomeration of particles of solid chemicals.  
   
   
       12 . The textile of  claim 1  wherein the at least one of inert particle separating, inorganic, organic solid, and liquid chemicals comprise talc, fumed silica, precipitated silica, solid waxes, liquid waxes, and silicone oils.  
   
   
       13 . The textile of  claim 1 , wherein the swellable organic chemical has a particle distribution such that at least 95% of the particles passes through Standard Sieve Size of 5.6 mm.  
   
   
       14 . The textile of  claim 1 , wherein the total thickness of the combination of the substrate layer, layer of swellable organic chemical, and cover layer is in the range from 1.0 mm to 20 mm.  
   
   
       15 . The textile of  claim 3 , whereby when a shear force acts on one of the substrate layer and the cover layer, a mechanical connection transfers the shear force to the other of the substrate layer and the cover layer.  
   
   
       16 . A method of manufacturing a textile for use in the containment of liquid hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: 
 i. spreading a substrate layer;    ii. distributing a layer of a swellable organic chemical on top of the substrate layer;    iii. covering the layer of the organic swellable chemical with a cover layer; and    iv. assembling the textile by needlepunching the substrate layer, the layer of swellable organic chemical, and the cover layer in a needling loom,    wherein at least one of the substrate layer and the top layer are comprised of a non-woven textile material.