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Energy from Organic Fuels. F7 Oil Spill Lab. Lab Description. You will: Be given a container with water in it Recreate an oil spill in an aquatic environment by pouring oil into the water Purchase different types of materials that are commonly used to clean up oil spills
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Energy from Organic Fuels F7 Oil Spill Lab
Lab Description • You will: • Be given a container with water in it • Recreate an oil spill in an aquatic environment by pouring oil into the water • Purchase different types of materials that are commonly used to clean up oil spills • Evaluate how effective each material you used was in cleaning up the oil spill • Determine the financial cost of your clean-up efforts • Evaluate how effective your methods were
Materials Available 1. Oil Mat (Sorbent) • This material is available commercially. • It absorbs oil-based liquids while repelling water. • It also floats on water for easy recovery • Cost $100 per sheet
Materials Available 2. Hay • Environmentally friendly, biodegradable, economical and easy to get • Used because oil tends to adhere to the hay • It also floats on water for easy recovery • Cost $50 per bale (handful)
Materials Available 3. Sand • Also environmentally friendly, economical, and plentiful • When sprinkled on top of oil, the sand will adhere to it and force it to the bottom of the water • Of course, this can lead to other problems related to wildlife with oil on the ocean floor • Cost $50 per bag
Materials Available 4. Vermiculite • All natural inert mineral, therefore it is environmentally friendly • Typically used as a packing material • Valued for its high absorbency of liquids • Cost $150 per bag
Materials Available 5. Kitty Litter • Absorbent material • Often used to clean up oil spills on surfaces such as driveways and sidewalks • Denser than water • Cost $30 per bag
Materials Available 6. Pipets • Used for the containment and skimming clean-up method • After the oil spill has been contained, boats try to skim oil from the surface of the water. • They vacuum or scoop the oil from the water and into containment tanks • The pipet acts like the vacuum used to suck up the oil • Cost $500 to hire the boat and crew (pipet)
Materials Available 7. Plastic Spoon • Again, used for the containment and skimming clean-up method • After the oil spill has been contained, boats try to skim oil from the surface of the water. • They vacuum or scoop the oil from the water and into containment tanks • The spoon acts like the scoops used • Cost $500 to hire the boat and crew (spoon)
Materials Available 8. Mesh Material • Can be used as a filter to remove materials from the water • Acts like the netting used to remove the clean-up materials from the water • Cost $250 per net
Make a Plan You are the person in charge of making a clean-up plan in case of an oils spill for your company • You have $1000 to spend • You must decide what procedure the company will use • What materials will you need to purchase • Determine how much it is going to cost
Carry Out Your Plan The goal is to get the water as ‘clean’ as possible • Try your method of cleaning the oil spill • If the method you have chosen isn’t working and you have some extramoney in your budget… • You can purchase other materials and try a different method
After the Oil Spill Just like in real life, after the oil spill has been dealt with you will need to examine your methods • Answer the questions • How effective was you clean-up method? • Would you use a different method next time? • Were you able to ‘clean’ the water?
