Sorbent boom

Abstract

A panel-shaped sorbent boom for the removal of oil and other chemicals from water.

1 . An oil absorbing boom, comprising:
 a cover having a front and a back;   a plurality of compartments formed within the cover by connecting said front and said back; and   an oil absorbing fill material within said compartments.   
     
     
         2 . The boom of  claim 1  wherein said oil absorbing fill material is polypropylene. 
     
     
         3 . The boom of  claim 2  where said polypropylene is virgin material. 
     
     
         4 . The boom of  claim 1  wherein said compartments are elongate and arranged substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The boom of  claim 1  further comprising weights attached to the boom. 
     
     
         6 . The boom of  claim 5  wherein said weights are so selected that when placed in water, the boom floats at a predetermined depth. 
     
     
         7 . The boom of  claim 6  wherein said weights are so arranged that when placed in water, the boom floats with said front and said back substantially perpendicular to the surface of the water. 
     
     
         8 . An oil absorbing boom, comprising:
 A plurality of elongate compartments, each having an length, formed of a flexible material, said compartments arranged substantially parallel to each other and joined along their lengths; and   an oil absorbing fill material within said compartments.   
     
     
         9 . The boom of  claim 8  wherein said oil absorbing fill material is polypropylene. 
     
     
         10 . The boom of  claim 9  where said polypropylene is virgin material. 
     
     
         11 . The boom of  claim 8  wherein said compartments all have a height and a width, wherein said compartments further have substantially the same width, and are so arranged that the boom has a width equal to the width of each compartment and an height equal to the sum of the compartments' respective heights. 
     
     
         12 . The boom of  claim 11  further comprising weights attached to one of the compartments. 
     
     
         13 . The boom of  claim 12  wherein said weights are so selected that when placed in water, the boom floats at a predetermined depth. 
     
     
         14 . The boom of  claim 13  wherein said weights are so arranged that when placed in water, the boom floats with the compartments arranged substantially vertically relative to one another. 
     
     
         15 . A method of removing a contaminant from water, comprising the steps of:
 providing a sorbent boom comprising a cover having a front and a back, a plurality of compartments formed within the cover by connecting said front and said back, and a contaminant-absorbing fill material within said compartments;   attaching weight said boom; and   placing said boom in water containing a contaminant.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the boom is so weighted that when placed in water, the boom floats with said compartments arranged substantially parallel to the surface of the water and substantially vertically relative to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of joining a plurality of booms together to form a chain. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said water is in motion, and said boom is placed in said water and affixed to an immobile object such that the water tends to flow between said front and said back. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of attaching said boom to an object that moves through said water in such a fashion that the water tends to flow between said front and said back.