Oil recovery and environmental cleanup compositions

Abstract

This invention relates to improvements in products and processes for cleaning up oil, chemical, or other hydrocarbon spills, and cleaning up the environment where such spills have occurred. In one aspect of the invention, there is provided an adsorbent polymeric composition which is oleophilic and capable of adsorption of other chemicals and hydrocarbons from both land and water, the adsorbent composition including polyethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, catalyst, cross-linking agent, lubricant, blowing agent and a bulking agent. In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacture of an adsorbent composition for use in retrieving and recycling oil, chemicals and hydrocarbons from land or water environments.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . An adsorbent polymeric composition, comprising: 
 (a) a polyethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer;    (b) a catalyst;    (c) a cross linking agent;    (d) a lubricant;    (e) a blowing agent; and    (f) a bulking agent,    wherein the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of one or more of diacyl peroxide, dialkyl peroxide, ketone peroxide, peroxy dicarbonates, peroxy esters, tertiary alkyl hydroperoxides, tertiary amyl peroxides, acid chlorides or hydrogen peroxides and is present in an amount of 0.2-1.8% w/w, and wherein the adsorbent polymeric composition is oleophilic and capable of adsorption of chemicals and hydrocarbons from land or water.    
   
   
       15 . The adsorbent polymeric composition of  claim 14 , wherein said polyethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer is a polyethylene/ethyl vinyl acetate copolymer.  
   
   
       16 . The adsorbent polymeric composition of  claim 14 , wherein said polyethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer is present in the composition in an amount of 75-95% w/w.  
   
   
       17 . The adsorbent polymeric composition of  claim 14 , wherein said polyethylene/vinyl acetate polymer comprises 2-30% w/w vinyl acetate.  
   
   
       18 . The adsorbent polymeric composition of  claim 14 , wherein said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of one or more of zinc oxide, zinc stearate, lead, chromium, copper, cobalt, nickel, silica, compounds or ionic forms thereof and is present in an amount of 0.2-2.0% w/w.  
   
   
       19 . The adsorbent polymeric composition of  claim 14 , wherein the bulking agent is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate or talc and is present in an amount of up to 25% w/w.  
   
   
       20 . The adsorbent polymeric composition of  claim 14 , wherein the lubricant is a fatty acid.  
   
   
       21 . The adsorbent polymeric composition of  claim 14  further comprising one or more of odour masking agents, antimicrobial agents, antifungal agents, wetting agents, colourants or dyes.  
   
   
       22 . The adsorbent polymeric composition of  claim 14  comprising polyethylene/ethyl vinyl acetate, dicumyl peroxide, stearic acid, zinc oxide and calcium carbonate.  
   
   
       23 . A filter comprising an adsorbent composition further comprising a polyethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, a catalyst, a cross linking agent, a lubricant, a blowing agent and a bulking agent, wherein said adsorbent polymeric composition is oleophilic and capable of adsorption of chemicals and hydrocarbons from land or water.  
   
   
       24 . The filter of  claim 23 , wherein said polyethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer is a polyethylene/ethyl vinyl acetate copolymer.  
   
   
       25 . The filter of  claim 23 , wherein said polyethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer is present in the composition in an amount of 75-95% w/w.  
   
   
       26 . The filter of  claim 23 , wherein said polyethylene/vinyl acetate polymer comprises 2-30% w/w vinyl acetate.  
   
   
       27 . The filter of  claim 23 , wherein said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of one or more of zinc oxide, zinc stearate, lead, chromium, copper, cobalt, nickel, silica, compounds or ionic forms thereof and is present in an amount of 0.2-2.0% w/w.  
   
   
       28 . The filter of  claim 23 , wherein said crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of one or more of diacyl peroxide, dialkyl peroxide, ketone peroxide, peroxy dicarbonates, peroxy esters, tertiary alkyl hydroperoxides, tertiary amyl peroxides, acid chlorides or hydrogen peroxides and is present in an amount of 0.2-1.8% w/w.  
   
   
       29 . The filter of  claim 23 , wherein the bulking agent is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate or talc and is present in an amount of up to 25% w/w.  
   
   
       30 . The filter of  claim 23 , wherein the lubricant is a fatty acid.  
   
   
       31 . The filter of  claim 23 , wherein the adsorbent polymeric composition further comprises one or more of odour masking agents, antimicrobial agents, antifungal agents, wetting agents, colourants or dyes.  
   
   
       32 . The filter of  claim 23 , wherein the adsorbent polymeric composition further comprises polyethylene/ethyl vinyl acetate, dicumyl peroxide, stearic acid, zinc oxide and calcium carbonate.  
   
   
       33 . A method of manufacturing an oleophilic adsorbent polymeric composition, comprising: 
 forming an admixture of a polyethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, a catalyst, a cross linking agent, a lubricant, a blowing agent and a bulking agent into a crepe;    subjecting said crepe to a pressure in a range of about 6,500-12,000 tonne/m 2 , and a temperature a range of about 70-400° C., in a sealed vessel; and    forming the resultant cake into a shape or form suited to the environment to be treated wherein said adsorbent polymeric composition can be used to retrieve and recycle oils, chemicals or hydrocarbons from a land or water environment.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said crepe is formed in a roller mill.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said pressure is about 12000 tonne/m 2 .  
   
   
       36 . An adsorbent polymeric composition manufactured according to the method of  claim 33 .  
   
   
       37 . A method of treating an environment to remove oil, chemical or a hydrocarbon pollutant comprising applying to said environment an adsorbent polymeric composition of  claim 36 .  
   
   
       38 . A method of treating an environment to remove oil, chemical or hydrocarbon pollutant comprising: 
 applying to said environment an adsorbent polymeric composition which is oleophilic and capable of adsorption of chemicals and hydrocarbons from land and water, the adsorbent composition comprising a polyethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, a catalyst, a cross linking agent, a lubricant, a blowing agent and a bulking agent.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said polyethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer is a polyethylene/ethyl vinyl acetate copolymer.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said polyethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer is present in the composition in an amount of 75-95% w/w.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said polyethylene/vinyl acetate polymer comprises 2-30% w/w vinyl acetate.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of one or more of zinc oxide, zinc stearate, lead, chromium, copper, cobalt, nickel, silica, compounds or ionic forms thereof and is present in amounts of 0.2-2.0% w/w.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of one or more of diacyl peroxide, dialkyl peroxide, ketone peroxide, peroxy dicarbonates, peroxy esters, tertiary alkyl hydroperoxides, tertiary amyl peroxides, acid chlorides or hydrogen peroxides and is present in amounts of 0.2-1.8% w/w.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the bulking agent is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate or talc and is present in amounts of up to 25% w/w.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the lubricant is a fatty acid.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the adsorbent polymeric composition further includes one or more of odour masking agents, antimicrobial agents, antifungal agents, wetting agents, colourants or dyes.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the adsorbent polymeric composition further comprises polyethylene/ethyl vinyl acetate, a blowing agent, dicumyl peroxide, stearic acid, zinc oxide and calcium carbonate.