Magnetization and manipulation of hydrophobic absorbents

Abstract

The present invention includes a method of controlling an oil spill through introduction of a plurality of magnetizable particles into the oil spill in an amount sufficient to form a colloidal mixture. An absorbent is also introduced into the oil spill to form an absorbent mixture. A magnetic field can be applied to the system to move, manipulate, or otherwise control the absorbent mixture in response to movement of the magnetic field.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of using magnetizable particles for controlling oil disposed at a surface, the method comprising:
 adding a premixed combination of magnetizable particles and an absorbent to the oil in an amount sufficient to form an absorbent mixture;   introducing a magnetic field to the absorbent mixture; and   raising the absorbent mixture away from the surface in response to the magnetic field.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent comprises a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent comprises a humic substance, coconut shell fibers, peat moss, hay, sawdust, ground corncobs, feathers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of absorbent to magnetizable particles in the absorbent mixture is 25:1 by volume. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetizable particles are electrolytic iron oxide. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetizable particles are nanoparticles. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising raising additional oil proximate to the absorbent mixture away from the surface in response to the magnetic field. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent mixture is raised from the surface that is water. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a diffusion rate of the oil is reduced by the introduction of the premixed combination. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein introducing the magnetic field increases a viscosity effect to the absorbent mixture orthogonal to the magnetic field. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising separating the magnetic particles from the other components of the absorbent mixture via a separation barrier positioned between the absorbent mixture and a source of the magnetic field. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the separation barrier comprises a vertical column. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein introducing the magnetic field further comprises generating an electromagnetic pulsed-wave. 
     
     
         14 . A mixture for absorbing oil spills, comprising:
 a volume of magnetizable particles; and   a volume of absorbent material, wherein an absorbent mixture is formed when the volume of magnetizable particles and the volume of absorbent material are introduced to a volume of oil.   
     
     
         15 . The mixture of  claim 14 , wherein the absorbent material comprises a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         16 . The mixture of  claim 14 , wherein the absorbent material comprises a humic substance, coconut shell fibers, peat moss, hay, sawdust, ground corncobs, feathers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The mixture of  claim 14 , wherein a ratio of absorbent material to magnetizable particles is 25:1 by volume. 
     
     
         18 . The mixture of  claim 14 , wherein the magnetizable particles are electrolytic iron oxide. 
     
     
         19 . The mixture of  claim 14 , wherein coupling forces between the magnetizable particles, the absorbent material, and the introduced oil include electrostatic forces, adhesion forces, Van der Waals forces, absorption forces, magnetic forces, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The mixture of  claim 14 , wherein the magnetizable particles couple to the introduced oil via Van der Waals forces.