flexibility. In one wave cycle, the escaped oil from the rigid boom was lower (about
5%) than that from the flexible one.
The boom characteristics, contained oil properties, and environmental conditions
have a considerable effect on the performance of the booms while there is less
information about their effect. Moreover, it is suggested that the oil spread model on
the surface of water and physio-chemical mechanisms of the spreading should
comprehensively be studied to improve and develop a hind cast model for booms.
Sometimes, the oil booms are used to improve the skimmer efficiency but there is a
main problem with containment booms. The booms collect and concentrate both oil
and surrounding ice so that the ice concentration rapidly decreases the skimmer
efficiency, contrary to the positive effect of oil concentration.
As a result, the recovery rate of physical methods like booms is a notable
weakness. In addition, these methods are unable to remove spilled oil in brush and
broken ice conditions and need to improve their application with some chemical
agents.
12.4 Chemical Methods
The chemical methods are cheaper than physical methods for spilled oil removal.
These methods are quick and used for various oils. However, they have disadvantages like secondary pollution and unrecoverable oil. In the following, different
types of chemical methods for oilremediation with some of their advantages and
disadvantages are discussed.
12.4.1 In Situ Burning
In situ burning is an easy and fast thermal means to treat oil contaminated sites and
requires a minimum of specialized equipment like fire igniters and resistant booms.
It provides high rates of oil removal efficiency. In situ burning is applied to treat jet
fuel and oil spilled in snow and ice covered waters by ship accidents, pipelines,
storage tanks in Scandinavian countries, European countries, USA, and Canada
(Mullin and Champ 2003). The method is effective in calm wind conditions and is
useful for the spills of light refined products or fresh oils because they can burn
quickly and without any danger for marine life, but there is a probability that the
residue will sink and cover up an underground water resource (Dave and Ghaly
2011). The residue can be removed using the mechanical techniques. The thickness
of oil and the adequate amount of oxygen are the factors that limit the successful
performance of burning (Buist et al. 1999). There are two factors including
(a) burning agents including light crude oils, gasoline, and (b) wicking factors
including wood, straw, silica, and glass beads, in order to sustain the oil combustion
and provide sufficient oxygen to the fire (Fingas et al. 1979). In spite of the success
12 Remediation of Pollution by Oil Spills
401
5%) than that from the flexible one.
The boom characteristics, contained oil properties, and environmental conditions
have a considerable effect on the performance of the booms while there is less
information about their effect. Moreover, it is suggested that the oil spread model on
the surface of water and physio-chemical mechanisms of the spreading should
comprehensively be studied to improve and develop a hind cast model for booms.
Sometimes, the oil booms are used to improve the skimmer efficiency but there is a
main problem with containment booms. The booms collect and concentrate both oil
and surrounding ice so that the ice concentration rapidly decreases the skimmer
efficiency, contrary to the positive effect of oil concentration.
As a result, the recovery rate of physical methods like booms is a notable
weakness. In addition, these methods are unable to remove spilled oil in brush and
broken ice conditions and need to improve their application with some chemical
agents.
12.4 Chemical Methods
The chemical methods are cheaper than physical methods for spilled oil removal.
These methods are quick and used for various oils. However, they have disadvantages like secondary pollution and unrecoverable oil. In the following, different
types of chemical methods for oilremediation with some of their advantages and
disadvantages are discussed.
12.4.1 In Situ Burning
In situ burning is an easy and fast thermal means to treat oil contaminated sites and
requires a minimum of specialized equipment like fire igniters and resistant booms.
It provides high rates of oil removal efficiency. In situ burning is applied to treat jet
fuel and oil spilled in snow and ice covered waters by ship accidents, pipelines,
storage tanks in Scandinavian countries, European countries, USA, and Canada
(Mullin and Champ 2003). The method is effective in calm wind conditions and is
useful for the spills of light refined products or fresh oils because they can burn
quickly and without any danger for marine life, but there is a probability that the
residue will sink and cover up an underground water resource (Dave and Ghaly
2011). The residue can be removed using the mechanical techniques. The thickness
of oil and the adequate amount of oxygen are the factors that limit the successful
performance of burning (Buist et al. 1999). There are two factors including
(a) burning agents including light crude oils, gasoline, and (b) wicking factors
including wood, straw, silica, and glass beads, in order to sustain the oil combustion
and provide sufficient oxygen to the fire (Fingas et al. 1979). In spite of the success
12 Remediation of Pollution by Oil Spills
401