Did You Know...
...that in the early 1940s GE engineer James Wright was charged with a task of utmost importance to the war effort: develop a cheap substitute for rubber that could be used to produce tires, gas masks and a whole host of military gear. Wright tackled the task diligently -- and wound up inventing Silly Putty.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7354516 | Oil digesting microbe-plastic foam system This invention is a system and method for bioremediation of hydrocarbon and organic pollution in fresh and salt water. Hydrocarbon and organic pollution digesting microbes are placed in a floating carrier where the microorganisms are exposed to the pollution and the... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7329360 | Oil recovery and environmental cleanup compositions comprising a polyethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer This invention relates to improvements in products and processes for cleaning up oil, chemical, or other hydrocarbon spills, and cleaning up the environment where such spills have occurred. In one aspect of the invention, there is provided an adsorbent polymeric com... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7326354 | Active barrier for polluted waters and method for its installation The invention relates to an active barrier (1) and a method for its use. The active barrier (1) is used to contain and to collect polluting material floating over bodies of water, such as river, lakes, lagoons, bays or open oceans. More specifically, t... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7300590 | Method and apparatus for separating oil and debris from water run-off A drainage system for separating oil and debris from water run-off wherein a chamber in the path of flow of the run-off includes a downwardly inclined screen and a debris-collecting fence beneath the screen to maintain separation between the debris and water; and an... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7229560 | Sack-based processes for recovering oil floating on water One or more water- and oil-porous containers or sacks are made of a pair of mesh sheets affixed together and stiffened around their perimeter. The sacks can be partially filled with a multitude of tubular bodies made of an oil-entrapping polymer, which have their lo... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7094338 | Method of making and using a filter in the form of a block of agglomerated copolymer fragments One of the exemplary filter systems described includes a bracket and a filter module that can be suspended from the bracket by a plurality of flexible supports. The bracket can support the filter system beneath the grate of a storm drain without the need for the fil... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7048878 | Process of forming oil-absorbent bodies A process for forming an oil-sorbent composition of matter with bound combinations of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) utilizes a low-temperature extrusion process. The SBS, or both materials, may be in the form of multitud... | 05/23/2006 |
| 6962659 | Contaminant skimming device An oil skimmer for removing oil floating on surfaces of bodies of water. The oil skimmer includes a support frame, respective drive pulley and guide pulleys rotatably mounted to the support frame on respective shafts, and a drive train which rotatively drives the dr... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6923888 | Process for recovering organic acids from bleaching liquors The invention relates to a process for treating bleaching liquors from pulping processes based on organic acids. The process is characterized in that inorganic acid, such as nitric acid, phosphoric acid and/or sulphuric acid, is added into a bleaching liquor obtaine... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6869525 | Storm drain filter system A storm drain filter system apparatus includes a skimmer tray having a sediment collection closed bottom and having an inlet side and an outlet side and a hydrocarbon absorbing boom. A plurality of boom support brackets each has a boom holding portion for holding th... | 03/22/2005 |
| 6852234 | Apparatus and method for in situ burning of oil spills A method for in-situ burning of oil slicks on water, including the steps of: 1) providing a plurality of individual floating wicks; 2) positioning the wicks in the oil slick; and 3) igniting the wicks. Additionally, a method for manufacturing floating wicks for use ... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6797162 | Catch basin filter for stormwater runoff The present invention is a filter system for a curb inlet catch basin which catch basin includes a ramp in the curb front which feeds into a catch basin to allow storm water to run directly along the curb and down the ramp and which also has a grated cover so the wa... | 09/28/2004 |
| 6767456 | Reusable storm water sampler and pollutant filter insert An insert for use in a sewer system to remove oils and solvents carried by surface water runoff. The insert includes a holder and a quantity of water permeable, hydrophobic, oil and solvent absorbing material such as melt blown polypropylene. The holder has two func... | 07/27/2004 |
| 6723791 | Systems for ameliorating aqueous hydrocarbon spills An oil-sorbent composition of matter has bound combinations of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM). The SBS, or both materials, may be in the form of multitudes of granules. In certain preferred embodiments, the combination is... | 04/20/2004 |
| 6645930 | Clean room wipes for neutralizing caustic chemicals Clean room wipe products, methods of preparing them, and methods of using them are described. The clean room wipes are intended for use in cleaning up alkaline contaminants in clean room environments. The wipes contain impregnated acidic solutions, e.g., ... | 11/11/2003 |
| 6598260 | Liquid barrier system A liquid barrier system for protecting selected areas of flooring from liquid flow. The liquid barrier system includes a pair of end assemblies adapted for abutting a surface of a floor, and an elongate barrier assembly having two ends, each one of the ba... | 07/29/2003 |
| 6506307 | Process for sorbing liquids using tropical fibers A process is described for sorbing hydrophobic liquids using a plurality of dried, washed fibers originating from a tropical plant material having naturally hydrophobic fibers. The dried, washed fibers have been washed sufficiently to extract a substantia... | 01/14/2003 |
| 6444611 | Sorbent composition and apparatus for removing oil or oily substances from water, and process of manufacturing said composition A sorbent composition and process designed for removing oil or oily substances from the surface or upper layer of a body of a water. The sorbent composition consists of raw peanuts hulls crushed to a plurality of particles of predetermined dimensions. The... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6439492 | Vehicular fluid absorbent pad The present invention 10 discloses an absorption means of liquid spills and fluids that may leak or fall from underneath the chassis of a motor vehicle 12. The present invention 10 discloses a main enclosure 16 being a cylindrical-shaped structure having ... | 08/27/2002 |
| 6409924 | Method for removing oil from water System in fluid communication with an oil-contaminated water supply, such as a water leg portion of an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank, for conveying the separated water into contact with an organophilic clay in a vessel maintained at a... | 06/25/2002 |
| 6398966 | Method for removing oil from water including monitoring of adsorbent saturation Apparatus in fluid communication with a water leg portion of a hydrocarbon-contaminated water, e.g., a water leg portion of an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank for conveying water, separated from oil, into contact with organophilic media... | 06/04/2002 |
| 6380129 | Enhanced materials for treatment of contamination An enhanced material formed from a carrier material having a high porosity. The carrier material is treated with a mixture of hydrocarbons to increase the adherence of the carrier material particles to one another to minimize atmospheric contamination of ... | 04/30/2002 |
| 6372134 | Cleaning device for removing oil A cleaning device (1), which is attached to a collecting device comprising a body and wheels (3) in which device a V-shaped brush (2) secured to a belt (7) moves in a groove, whereby the brushes flatten between the trough walls of the cleaning device (1) ... | 04/16/2002 |
| 6368499 | Storm drain assembly with disposable filter cartridge A disposable filter cartridge for a storm drain and the filter system that uses the improved filter cartridge are claimed. The filter cartridge has a pillow structure, wherein a water permeable scrim bag surrounds loose oil absorbing fibers. The oil absor... | 04/09/2002 |
| 6344519 | Systems for ameliorating aqueous hydrocarbon spills An oil-sorbent composition of matter has bound combinations of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM). The SBS, or both materials, may be in the form of multitudes of granules. In certain preferred embodiments, the com... | 02/05/2002 |
| 6332737 | Waterway pollution control apparatus A portable pollution control apparatus designed to span a creek or other small waterway. The apparatus includes an adjustable length boom which extends across the creek; an elongated, hydrocarbon-absorbent sock which is suspended from the boom and extends... | 12/25/2001 |
| 6326070 | Absorption means Sawdust particles are freed from their terpene content and thereafter coated with a Teflon wax. The Teflon coated sawdust is hydrophobic and consequently does not absorb water, while the ability to absorb oil is improved. The Teflon coated sawdust is usef... | 12/04/2001 |
| 6312596 | Absorbent bag A bag, particularly adapted for absorbing hydrocarbons dispersed in smaller quantities of water, has a ball-like shaped body formed from oleophobic netting materials. The bag body includes a tubular-shaped outer sleeve positioned about a tubular-shaped in... | 11/06/2001 |
| 6274046 | Method and apparatus for collecting matter floating on a body of water To collect oil or other matter floating on the surface of a body of water a collection vessel (11) having a collection compartment (A) is immersed in the water. A surface layer carrying the matter to be collected is caused to flow from the area around the... | 08/14/2001 |
| 6190545 | Drainwater treatment system for use in a horizontal passageway A drainwater treatment system positionable within a horizontal flow passage of a drainage system utilizes a partition which divides the flow passage into an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber. In addition, a mid-panel is supported within the upstre... | 02/20/2001 |
| 6180011 | Method for removing hydrocarbon products from water surfaces A method for removing hydrocarbon products from water surfaces, which entails contacting the hydrocarbon products with a crystalline polypropylene, which when observed under a microscope of 2500 magnetization, exhibits a spongy surface having relatively h... | 01/30/2001 |
| 6152025 | Fat collection structure and method A structure and method is provided for absorbing excess fat from an environment including one or more fats insolubly combined in an aqueous solution mix. The structure includes a plurality of layers, at least one of which is formed from a preferentially f... | 11/28/2000 |
| 6146529 | Device for absorbing oil from water Human hair is formed into a generally planar layer. The layer may comprise a center scrim to which the human hair is attached. The device is buoyant when saturated with oil and water. The device is used to remove oil from water.... | 11/14/2000 |
| 6143172 | Methods for ameliorating hydrocarbon spills in marine and inland waters A plurality of water- and oil-porous sacks are partially filled with a number of generally toroidal bodies of a polymer material that entraps oil and including mesh fragments scattered throughout the bodies. Each sack is sewn with a perimeter stiffening r... | 11/07/2000 |
| 6143170 | Oil recovery system A portable system for recovering oil-based fluids from sorbent articles containing oil-based fluids, the system including a motor vehicle and a self-balancing centrifuge having a housing and a foraminous rotatable basket removably attached to a spindle in... | 11/07/2000 |
| 6110863 | Absorption mat, especially for organic hydrocarbons An absorption mat 1 is described which is suitable for receiving organic hydrocarbons in liquid, paste-like or solid form, for example, oil, fats, fuels and solvents. The absorption mat is characterized by a plate-like and/or block-like molded body 2 made... | 08/29/2000 |
| 6099723 | Catchbasin systems for filtering hydrocarbon spills A water- and oil-porous sack contains a hydrophobic, compliant, oil-absorbent, copolymer material arranged in a number of bodies that (a) are generally cylindrical, (b) are porous, (c) have at least one passageway parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and... | 08/08/2000 |
| 6063274 | Self leveling skimmer A self-leveling skimmer attached to a boat is designed to remove a top surface layer of liquid while maintaining a constant position relative to the surface of the liquid layer. While maintaining a constant position relative to the top surface layer of li... | 05/16/2000 |
| 6030536 | Disposal method for fuel oil and crude oil spills A method for easily decomposing viscous, solidified spilled fuel oil or crude oil containing sea water and other disposal inhibiting substances. Titanium dioxide particles are added to viscous spilled fuel oil recovered in drums in a weight ratio of at le... | 02/29/2000 |
| 6027652 | Process for sorbing liquids using tropical fibers A process is described for using tropical fibers to recover spilled oil, gasoline, kerosene, hydrocarbons, pentachlorophenol, creosote or other hazardous liquids from land or water. The sorbent fiber material is produced from agricultural byproducts from ... | 02/22/2000 |
