The latest sorbent testing

This paper describes an efficient oil spill and chemical hazards response equipment testing program. The type of equipment tested include sorbents, skimmers, pumps, oil-water separators and other mechanical containment and recovery products, with the emphasis on sorbents. The ultimate goal of the testing program developed by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC Canada) of North York and Ottawa, Ontario, is to develop databases of performance information regarding oil spill equipment which would be tested to internationally recognized standards such as those developed by ASTM for oil spill recovery equipment. To date, a range of performance and handling criteria have been identified which enable end users to determine their priorities and rank sorbents accordingly. A recent successful application of the testing system involved the test of recovery devices designed to deal with some peculiar properties of a heavy oil (extreme viscosity and stickiness), properties which make conventional spill response equipment and techniques ineffective. A more extensive description of the system is promised at the Environment Canada-sponsored Arctic and Marine Oil Spill Technical Seminar scheduled for June in Vancouver