Light weight oriented net assembly for oil capture and containment

Abstract

A light weight oriented net or netting assembly is provided for oil capture and containment. The netting assembly is made by biaxially stretching or orienting starting materials to form a pattern of oriented strands and integral junctions that, while being light in weight, is also strong enough to be used to capture and remove oil from contaminated water without an outer stabilizing jacket. The assembly is preferably made from oriented polypropylene netting that is folded, gathered, bunched and/or otherwise layered upon itself on the order of 16-64 times and then crimped in one or more locations to secure the netting layers in a bow tie or tubular configuration that forms net cavities and an open cell structure to capture and contain oil that has been dispersed in water. Oil in the netting assembly can then be removed, such as by pressing or other removal process, after which the netting assembly may be reused.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An oil capture and containment net comprising a plurality of layers of netting made of an oil adsorbing polymer, said layers being secured in a bundled arrangement with at least one crimping element in at least one location of said netting, said crimping element forming irregular channels in said netting for increased surface area of said net for better capture and containment of oil dispersed in water. 
     
     
         18 . The oil capture and containment net as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said crimping element secures the netting in a generally bow tie configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The oil capture and containment assembly as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said bow tie configuration includes net cavities and an open cell structure forming said irregular channels. 
     
     
         20 . The oil capture and containment net as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of crimping elements spaced from one another lengthwise along the netting. 
     
     
         21 . The oil capture and containment net as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein said plurality of crimping elements includes a crimping element adjacent each end of the netting to form a tubular configuration for said net. 
     
     
         22 . The oil capture and containment assembly as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said netting is light weight oriented netting. 
     
     
         23 . The oil capture and containment assembly as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said oil adsorbing polymer is polypropylene. 
     
     
         24 . The oil capture and containment assembly as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising a handling and connection element. 
     
     
         25 . The oil capture and containment assembly as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein said handling and connection element includes a rope. 
     
     
         26 . The oil capture and containment assembly as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the rope has a plurality of knots in a lengthwise center of the rope. 
     
     
         27 . The oil capture and containment assembly as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the rope has a loop tied at each end and a fastener at one end by which the assembly can be attached to another oil capture and containment assembly. 
     
     
         28 . A method of manufacturing an oil capture and containment assembly comprising the steps of:
 bundling a length of netting to have a plurality of layers; and   securing the bundled layers widthwise with at least one crimping element in at least one location of said netting to form irregular channels or openings through the bundled layers that increase an overall surface area of said netting for better capture and containment of oil dispersed in water.   
     
     
         29 . The method as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein said step of bundling includes folding, rolling or bunching the netting to create at least sixteen layers of said netting. 
     
     
         30 . The method as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein said crimping element secures the netting in a generally bow tie configuration. 
     
     
         31 . The method as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein said step of securing the layers includes securing the layers of netting with a crimping element in at least two locations spaced from one another along said length, the crimping elements forming irregular channels through the assembly for increased surface area and better retention of captured oil when the assembly is removed from oil-contaminated water. 
     
     
         32 . The method as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein said crimping elements secure the netting in a tubular configuration that includes net cavities and an open cell structure. 
     
     
         33 . A method of capturing and containing oil dispersed in water comprising:
 forming an oil capture and containment assembly having a plurality of layers of netting made of an oil adsorbing polymer, said layers being bunched together and secured widthwise with at least one crimping element in at least one location along a length of said netting;   placing the assembly into water contaminated with oil, said assembly adsorbing a quantity of said oil through contact between said assembly and the oil.   
     
     
         34 . The method as set forth in  claim 33 , further comprising the steps of:
 removing the assembly with the quantity of adsorbed oil from the water;   reclaiming said adsorbed oil from said assembly; and   reusing said assembly to capture and contain more oil.   
     
     
         35 . The method as set forth in  claim 33 , further comprising the steps of:
 fastening the oil capture and containment assembly to another oil capture and containment assembly end to end to create a string of oil capture and containment assemblies.