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EC 1999-2000 Sorbent Testing Protocol Summary
Testing of oil spill sorbent
products by David Cooper, P.Eng.
 


1.0 Introduction Top

Environment Canada's Emergencies Engineering Technologies Office, in conjuction with its research partners, plays an active role in developing standards for evaluating response equipment as well as conducting product testing.


2.0 Objective Top

The purpose of these tests are to evaluate the sorbents performance as per the ASTM F726-99 Standard Method of Testing - Sorbent Performance of Adsorbents. 

This protocol is based, in part, upon test methods listed in the Canadian General Standards Board - Method for Testing Sorbents (CAN/CGSB-183.2-4), and internal standards initially developed in part by the Emergencies Engineering Technologies Office (formerly the Emergencies Engineering Division).



3.0 Materials and Equipment Top

The following section details the physical types of sorbents and the equipment used to perform the testing.


3.1 Sorbent Descriptions Top

Type I adsorbent (roll, film, sheet, pad, blanket, web):
material with length and width much greater than thickness and which has both linear form and strength sufficient to be handled either saturated or unsaturated.

Type II adsorbent (loose):
an unconsolidated, particulate material without sufficient form and strength to be handled except with scoops and similar equipment.

Type III adsorbent (enclosed):
IIIa, pillows - adsorbent material contained by an outer fabric or netting which has permeability to oil, but with openings sufficiently small so as to substantially retain the sorbent material within the fabric or netting.

IIIb, adsorbent booms - adsorbent material contained by an outer fabric or netting which has permeability to or is permeable to oil but with openings sufficiently small so as to substantially retain the sorbent material within the fabric or netting. The lengthwise dimension substantially exceeds other dimensions and with strength members running parallel with length.  Booms are also provided with connections for coupling adsorbent booms together.

Type IV - agglomeration unit - an assemblage of strands, open netting, or other physical forms giving an open structure which minimally impedes the intrusion into itself of high viscosity oils. Normally for use with viscous oils, typically above 10,000 cP viscosity. Said oils are then held in this structure permitting the composite oil/structure to be handled (pompoms).


3.2 Test Liquids Top

The sorbent material is tested in a series of oil viscosities.  Typically the first three test liquids from the following list are used:

Oil Type Viscosity Range Density Range Example
Light 1 - 10 cP 0.820 - 0.870 g/cm3 Diesel Fuel
Medium 200 - 400 cP 0.860 - 0.930 g/cm3 Crude Oil
Heavy 1,500 - 2,500 cP 0.930 - 1.000 g/cm3 Bunker C or residual fuel
Weathered 8,000 - 10,000 cP 0.930 - 1.000 g/cm3 Emulsified Crude Oil



3.3 Equipment Top

The following apparatus is used to measure physical and chemical properties of the sorbent and/or test liquids.

Density: Anton Paar DMA 35 hand-held digital densitometer. The unit contains a borosilicate U-shaped oscillating tube and a system for electronic excitation, frequency counting and display. An injected sample volume is kept constant and is vibrated. The density calculated is based on a measurement of the sample oscillation period and temperature. Replicate measurements are conducted and the average density is reported.
Viscosity: Brookfield DVII viscometer powered by a precision motor and equiped with a beryllium copper spring to measure torque. The degree to which the spring is wound is proportional to the viscosity of the fluid. Several of the following spindles are used per measurement when possible: LVT spindles (#1,#2,#3,#4), Ultra Low viscosity Adapter (ULA) and spindle, Small Sample Adapter (SSA) and spindles SC4-18, SC4-31.
Models are said to be accurate to within 1% of their full scale range when employed in the specified manner. Readings should be reproducible to within 0.2% of full scale subject to environmental conditions such as variations in fluid temperature. Calibrations are conducted with Brookfield Standard Fluids.
Mass: Sample mass is measured using a Mettler PM4000 analytical balance. The scale resolution is 0.01 g and the reported reproducibility is 0.01g
Test Cells: Pyrex 190 mm (diameter) x 100 mm (depth) crystallizing dishes are the typical test cells used although other vessels can be used in order to accomodate special materials.
Weighing Pans: Non-stick coated pans of 20 cm diameter are used to weigh the samples.
Mesh Basket: Mesh baskets (mesh size approximately of 1.18 mm diameter) are used to contain and drain Type II (loose particulate) samples.
Shaker Table: An Eberbach Corporation shaker table, modified to hold three (3) 4L jars is used to agitate samples. The table is set at a frequency of 150 cycles per minute with an amplitude of 3 cm.



4.0 Test Protocol Top

The following is only a summary of the actual protocol used. For the complete protocol, please contact ASTM offices at http://www.astm.org/


4.1 The Dynamic Degradation Pre-Test Top

This procedure is designed to determine the buoyancy, hydrophobic and oleophilic properties of a sorbent sample under dynamic conditions. A sorbent sample is placed in a sealed 4L jar which is half filled with water. The jar is placed on its side and mounted on a shaker table, set at a frequency of 150 cycles per minute at an amplitude of 3 cm, for a duration of 15 minutes. The contents of the jar are allowed to settle for a period of 2 minutes, after which observations pertaining to the condition of the water and the sorbent sample are recorded. The sorbent is tested for water pick-up. Under full protocol testing, if greater than 10% of the sorbent is observed to sink, further testing is halted.



4.2 The Dynamic Degradation Test Top

Four millilitres of oil (~300 cP) is added to the surface of the test jars which have been re-filled with water. The wetted sorbent samples used in the Dynamic Degradation Pre-Test are returned to the jar and the container is placed on its side and mounted on a shaker table for an additional 15 minutes. The contents of the jar are allowed to settle for a period of 2 minutes and observations noted.


4.3 The Oil Adsorption - Short Test Top

Fresh sorbent samples are weighed and placed in test cells containing excess test liquids for a duration of 15 minutes. The samples are removed and weighed again at a precise time interval (which is dependant on the viscosity of the test liquid) and a pick-up ratio is calculated. All runs are performed in triplicate, with a maximum permissible deviation of 15%. If this deviation is exceeded, all three runs are performed again.


4.4 The Oil Adsorption - Long Test Top

Fresh sorbent samples are weighed and placed in test cells containing excess test liquids for a duration of 24 hours. The samples are removed and weighed again at a precise time interval (which is dependant on the viscosity of the test liquid) and a pick-up ratio is calculated. All runs are performed in triplicate, with a maximum permissible deviation of 15%. If this deviation is exceeded, all three runs are performed again.



5.0 Sample Results: Top


Emergencies Engineering Technology Office of ETC
EC 1999-2000 Sorbent Test Program


TESTING INFORMATION

COMPANY: Company X DENSITY: 0.61 g/cm3
SORBENT: XYZ DATE TESTED: Jan 1, 1999
PROJECT #: EC99-0000 TESTED BY: BA
TYPE (I,II,III,IV): II CHECKED BY: DC
MATERIAL: shredded polypropylene


DYNAMIC: DEGRADATION PRE-TEST

  1 2 3
Temperature (oC) 21 21 21
Sample weight (g) 10.4 10.2 8.8
Initial water pickup ratio (g liquid / g sorbent) 1.2 1.2 1.3
Buoyancy test (Pass / Fail) Pass Pass Pass
COMMENTS:
Following 2 minute settling time:
Approx. 5% of sorbent sinks or is in suspension. 

Water remains clear. Sorbent submerged; sorbent still floating.

 

DYNAMIC: DEGRADATION TEST

  1 2 3
Temperature (oC) 21 21 21
Persistence of oil sheen on surface (Y/N) (g liquid / g sorbent) No No No
COMMENTS:
No sheen on surface.  No noticable change in water colour or clarity.



SHORT TEST (15 Minutes)

  Oil #1 Oil #2 Oil #3
SAMPLE 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Temperature (oC) 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0
Sample weight (g) 10.01 10.03 10.01 9.98 9.98 9.99 5.08 5.00 5.10
Initial Capacity (g liquid / g sorbent) 11.33 10.80 10.52 13.05 12.93 13.17 5.44 6.05 4.61
Average Liquid up-take (g liquid / g sorbent) 10.9 13.1 5.4
Standard Deviation (g liquid / g sorbent) 0.41 0.12 0.72



LONG TEST (24 Hours)

  Oil #1 Oil #2 Oil #3
SAMPLE 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Temperature (oC) 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0
Sample weight (g) 11.20 10.60 10.83 10.54 10.30 11.02 10.27 9.20 9.78
Initial Capacity (g liquid / g sorbent) 12.45 11.98 11.88 15.31 14.94 13.71 18.34 17.20 17.92
Average Liquid up-take (g liquid / g sorbent) 12.1 14.7 17.8
Standard Deviation (g liquid / g sorbent) 0.30 0.84 0.58



Oil Type Density (g/cm3) Viscosity (cP) Temperature(oC)
Diesel
 
0.838 3.4 21.9
Comment:  Sorbent becomes saturated and sinks in oil.   Drained 30 seconds
Medium
 
0.876 350 22.2
Comment: Sorbent becomes saturated and sinks in oil.   Drained 2 minutes
Heavy
 
0.974 2300 21.7
Comment:  Sorbent did not reach saturation in Short test.  Drained 2 minutes


For additional information, contact: Top

SAIC Mr. David Cooper, P.Eng.
SAIC Canada
3439 River Road
Gloucester, Ontario
K1A 0H3
Tel: (613) 991-1841
Fax: (613) 991-1673
email:[email protected]
 


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