Method for Using Air to Remove Precipitated Contaminating Oil

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of removing deposited pollutant oil using air, and more particularly to a method of removing pollutant oil, which comprises injecting compressed air when oil has been deposited at the bottom of the sea, and injecting compressed air while supplying water when oil has been deposited on water-free sand, rock or soil, thereby degassing the oil while floating the remaining degassed oil on the water surface. More specifically, the method: introducing an air jet at the bottom below the water surface; injecting compressed air from the air jet, thereby raising water and sand or soil together with the compressed water, discharging gas by the kinetic energy of air bubbles caused by the compressed air flow to degas oil, and floating the degassed oil on the water surface; and removing the floated oil.

1 . A method of removing pollutant oil deposited from the water surface using air, comprising: defining a work area by an oil boom, such that oil does not enter the work area or does not flow out of the work area; placing an adsorbent on the oil boom; introducing an air jet at the bottom below the water surface; injecting compressed air through the air jet, thereby raising water and sand or soil together with the compressed air, discharging gas from oil deposited at the bottom by the kinetic energy of air bubbles caused by the compressed air flow to degas the oil, and floating the degassed oil on the water surface; and removing the floated oil. 
     
     
         2 . A method of removing pollutant oil deposited at the bottom of the beach, the bottom being exposed at low tide, the method comprising: piling polluted sand to make a plurality of small sand islands; after the tide had come in, defining a work area by an oil boom, such that oil does not enter the work area or does not flow out of the work area; placing an adsorbent on the oil boom; placing an adsorbent on the oil boom; introducing an air jet at the bottom below the water surface; injecting compressed air through the air jet, thereby raising water and sand or soil together with the compressed air, discharging gas from oil deposited at the bottom by the kinetic energy of air bubbles caused by the compressed air flow to degas the oil, and floating the degassed oil on the water surface; and removing the floated oil. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a roll adsorbent is provided within the area defined by the oil boom, so that the floated oil can be collected in one place. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein, after the oil has floated, the roll adsorbent is dragged in a trawl-like manner to collect the oil in one place in such a manner that the oil does not overflow. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein, if the floated oil is present in a mixture with bubbles, making it difficult to collect the oil in one place, the roll adsorbent is installed in a multiple configuration, such that it can be dragged step-by-step to collect the oil in one place. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein, after the floated oil has been collected in one place, the oil is absorbed by an adsorbent, scooped up and placed in an external container. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein, after completion of the scooping operation, the roll adsorbent used to collect the oil is used to absorb the remaining oil, pick up and placed in the container. 
     
     
         8 . A method of removing pollutant oil attached to rocks or present between rocks, comprising: installing a secondary pollution barrier so as to prevent oil from flowing in or out of an area defined by the secondary pollution barrier; placing an adsorbent on the oil boom; placing an adsorbent on the oil boom; introducing an air jet at the bottom below the water surface; placing an air jet on polluted rocks or between polluted rocks while supplying water; injecting compressed air through the air jet, thereby raising water and sand or soil together with the compressed air, discharging gas from oil deposited at the bottom by the kinetic energy of air bubbles caused by the compressed air flow to degas the oil, and floating the degassed oil on the water surface; and removing the floated oil. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein, after installation of the secondary pollution barrier, unpolluted stones and gravel between rocks are removed to expose polluted portions of the rocks, and unpolluted portions of the rocks are washed, and then the air jet is placed in water on or between the polluted portions of the rocks. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein, if a gap or groove between the rocks is narrow, the air jet is made to have an elongated rod shape and is inserted into the gap or groove, and compressed air is injected through the air jet. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the floated oil is absorbed by an adsorbent and then collected. 
     
     
         12 . A method of removing pollutant oil deposited on water-free sand or soil, comprising the steps of:
 excavating an area polluted with oil to a predetermined depth, thus ensuring a work space;   supplying water to the work space so as to be filled with water;   placing an air jet in the work space while continuing to supply water;   injecting compressed air through the air jet, thereby raising water and sand or soil together with the compressed air, discharging gas from oil deposited at the bottom by the kinetic energy of air bubbles caused by the compressed air flow to degas the oil, and floating the degassed oil on the water surface;   absorbing the floated oil by an adsorbent and collecting the absorbed oil; and   draining water from the work space, filling the drained space with fresh soil or sand, and planarizing the area filled with the fresh soil or sand.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a roll adsorbent is provided within the area defined by the oil boom, so that the floated oil can be collected in one place. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein, after the oil has floated, the roll adsorbent is dragged in a trawl-like manner to collect the oil in one place in such a manner that the oil does not overflow. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein, if the floated oil is present in a mixture with bubbles, making it difficult to collect the oil in one place, the roll adsorbent is installed in a multiple configuration, such that it can be dragged step-by-step to collect the oil in one place. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein, after the floated oil has been collected in one place, the oil is absorbed by an adsorbent, scooped up and placed in an external container. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein, after completion of the scooping operation, the roll adsorbent used to collect the oil is used to absorb the remaining oil, pick up and placed in the container. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein, after the floated oil has been collected in one place, the oil is absorbed by an adsorbent, scooped up and placed in an external container.