Control and Confinement of Oil Pollution on Water with Monomolecular Surface Films.

摘要

Forty-seven chemicals were investigated to determine their usefulness as practical materials with which to form single-molecule-thick films that are capable of reducing the area covered by oil spilled on water. These chemicals are able to maintain the oil in a layer up to a maximum of approximately one-half inch thick by preventing it from spreading over the water surface. If the oil has spread before adding the chemical,the monomolecular film pushes the oil back into a thick layer. Such materials,classified as Collecting Agents by the National Contingency Plan,may be quite useful in increasing the efficiency of oil recovery devices,since all such devices perform better on thicker layers of oil. All materials investigated are commercially available in large quantities. The best five materials of those examined are reported with a summary of their properties. (Author)