Oil spill lab report
Oil Spill Clean-up: Lab Report
Description
There are various methods for cleaning up oil spills. Some methods allow oil to be recovered, whereas others do not. Some methods are more expensive than others, some are more efficient than others, and some have more of an environmental impact. Regardless of the method used, cleaning up oil spilled on water is a very time-consuming and difficult task.
In this activity, you will model various methods used for cleaning up an oil spill on water.
Material and Equipment
3 container for the oil-and-water mixture (such as soup bowls)
Graduated cylinder or measuring cup
Water
Vegetable oil
Medicine Dropper (Skimmer)
Plastic Cup (Oil Tank)
Shredded paper towel (Sorbent)
Spoon
Powdered and/or liquid detergent (Dispersant)
Hypothesis
Which method is the most efficient in cleaning up an oil spill on water?
I think that the Skimmer is the most efficient because it is able to recover most of the oil in a reasonable amount of time. Skimmers also have minimal interference with the marine environment whereas Sorbents can sink which causes harm to the marine environment. Dispersants are also not effective since they break down the oil which later sinks down to the bottom of the ocean causing harm to the deep sea environment which is where many of marine life is found, it also uses chemicals that are harmful to the environment.
Procedure
1. Copy the following chart
Method
Equipment
Observations
Rank
Skimmer
Medicine dropper
Sorbents
Shredded paper and spoon
Dispersants
Detergent and spoon
1. Using the graduated cylinder, add 80 mL of water to each of the three containers.
2. Using the graduated cylinder, measure 5mL of vegetable oil. Slowly pour the oil into the first container so that the surface of the water is covered. Repeat the process for the other two containers. Clean up any oil or water that you spill.
3. To clean up the “oil spill” use the skimmer (medicine dropper), sorbents
Description
There are various methods for cleaning up oil spills. Some methods allow oil to be recovered, whereas others do not. Some methods are more expensive than others, some are more efficient than others, and some have more of an environmental impact. Regardless of the method used, cleaning up oil spilled on water is a very time-consuming and difficult task.
In this activity, you will model various methods used for cleaning up an oil spill on water.
Material and Equipment
3 container for the oil-and-water mixture (such as soup bowls)
Graduated cylinder or measuring cup
Water
Vegetable oil
Medicine Dropper (Skimmer)
Plastic Cup (Oil Tank)
Shredded paper towel (Sorbent)
Spoon
Powdered and/or liquid detergent (Dispersant)
Hypothesis
Which method is the most efficient in cleaning up an oil spill on water?
I think that the Skimmer is the most efficient because it is able to recover most of the oil in a reasonable amount of time. Skimmers also have minimal interference with the marine environment whereas Sorbents can sink which causes harm to the marine environment. Dispersants are also not effective since they break down the oil which later sinks down to the bottom of the ocean causing harm to the deep sea environment which is where many of marine life is found, it also uses chemicals that are harmful to the environment.
Procedure
1. Copy the following chart
Method
Equipment
Observations
Rank
Skimmer
Medicine dropper
Sorbents
Shredded paper and spoon
Dispersants
Detergent and spoon
1. Using the graduated cylinder, add 80 mL of water to each of the three containers.
2. Using the graduated cylinder, measure 5mL of vegetable oil. Slowly pour the oil into the first container so that the surface of the water is covered. Repeat the process for the other two containers. Clean up any oil or water that you spill.
3. To clean up the “oil spill” use the skimmer (medicine dropper), sorbents