SAMARA, April 2. /TASS/. Scientists of the Togliatti State University (TSU) and of the Yuri Gagarin Saratov State Technical University developed sorbents that absorb oil at extremely low temperatures and that are easily extracted after purification. Using these sorbents will speed up eliminating oil accidents consequences in the Arctic, press service of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education told TASS.
"Scientists of the Togliatti and the Samara universities have found a way to make the elimination of oil accidents in the Arctic fast and manageable. They have developed sorbents that absorb oil at extremely low temperatures, and, due to their magnetic properties, can be easily extracted after purification," the press service said.
The development is aimed at solving one of the most acute environmental problems associated with the active development of oil fields on the Arctic shelf, where Russia has significant hydrocarbon reserves. Spills during mining or transportation in that region are particularly dangerous. Low temperatures, ice, and vulnerable ecosystems require using special technologies.
According to the ministry, cold plays a dual role in the Arctic. The ice cover and the increased viscosity of oil can slow down its spreading, and also prevent natural biochemical decomposition, promoting formation of stable emulsions and a thick oil film. "This means that the speed and adaptability of spill response methods are critically important for saving the fragile Arctic ecosystem," the ministry's press service added.
The developed sorbents were created as a tool for a quick and effective response. They are made of recycled materials - polyethylene terephthalate (PET), sawdust and ferritized electroplated sludge. "This engineering discovery builds up the technology's economic feasibility and also contributes to a closed-loop economy by recycling industrial waste," the press service stressed.
Laboratory tests
The new sorbents' outstanding characteristics were confirmed in laboratory tests in model seawater - that is water with a salinity of 32-35%, which simulates conditions in the northern seas. According to the ministry, the sorbents demonstrated ultra-fast operation speed having absorbed more than 99% of the oil film within just 20 minutes. This is one and a half to two times faster than existing commercial products are working.
"It is critically important for the Arctic that they are able to maintain high efficiency in extreme cold conditions: at minus 5 degrees, the materials' oil capacity reaches 22 grams of oil per one gram of sorbent, which significantly exceeds the performance of popular products on the market, such as Spilsorb (9.0 g/g) or Newsorb (4.6-9.0 g/g)," the press service noted.
The new product's another advantage is the extraction convenience. According to scientists, one type of this sorbent, containing ferritized electroplating, has magnetic properties, thus the waste material can be quickly and completely collected from the water surface by using a magnet, minimizing labor costs and secondary contamination risks.
"The materials are also highly stable: due to their pronounced hydrophobicity (the wetting edge angle is 130-140 degrees), they are resistant to getting wet and can remain buoyant on water for up to 96 hours, which is crucial in long-term operations in the open sea," the press service said.
Solution's adaptability
According to Elena Tatarintseva, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor at the Togliatti State University's Institute of Engineering and Environmental Safety, one of the authors of the study, not only efficiency, but also technological solutions are important for the Arctic.
"Quite often it is difficult to collect material after sorption, especially among the ice or near the coastline. Our magnetic sorbent solves exactly this problem, making the spill response process more manageable and less labor-consuming," the press service quoted the expert as saying.
Right now, scientists are working on optimizing the technology for large-scale production. They declare that they are open to partnership with oil and gas companies to conduct pilot tests in real conditions.