Prevention of oil spillages - from damaged tankers by pumping in metal soap gelling agents

摘要

Following damage to tankers by sea or collision, an oil-soluble metal soap which gels the oil contents is pumped into the damaged tanks through the Butterworth pipes used for cleaning the tanks. Pref. the soap is added as its components, the organic constituent e.g. resin stock oil, being pumped in first, followed by an aq. soln. or suspension of the inorganic constituent e.g. Ca(OH)2. The oil in the tanks rapidly sets to a thick gel and escape into the sea is prevented.