Industrial Oil Spill

Inert gases In an oil tanker the hydrocarbon gases emitted from the crude oil are explosive when mixed with gases of a certain concentration therefore inert gases are used to prevent explosions and fires. When the gases are mixed with the air and hydrocarbon gases they raise the lower flammable limit and reduce the highest until it disappears when the concentration of oxygen in the air reaches 8%. This inert gas is also used to fill the empty hull after the crude oil has been removed. Inert gases that could be used for this purpose include: Nitrogen (N) Neon (Ne) Argon (Ar) Or gases based on flue gas These are picked for their low oxygen content. Clean up of oil spill Physical Hair mats: One pound of hair absorbs one quart of oil. Hair is flash boiled and made into mats. Hair absorbs oil but is hydrophobic so water drains off but the hair folds onto the oil. Pro: the mats can be reused, the mat can be wrung to get rid of the oil in it and used again and can be used on beaches and out in the sea where the oil spill occurred. Con: Hair is not readily recycled in many western countries so and a programme has to be started to encourage hair salons to donate hair in order to make these mats and containment booms. Biological Bacteria that feed on hydrocarbons are added to the water where the spill occured

Pro: This is an organic treatment and no chemicals are added which will effect the environment Con: the effect is not immediate and may take several years for the oil to be significantly reduced by the bacteria. Chemical Adding disperants to the oil helps the oil to break up the oil and help disperse it Pro: The bacteria added to the water have a better chance of engulfing the oil quicker then if the oil remained in bigger heavier bits. Con: the effect of the chemical on marine life may be harmful.