Oil Spill Clean Up Lab
by Terri Tillen
Background: Oil spills at sea can be extremely destructive to the environment and the organisms in it. Animals that come in contact with the oil can be poisoned, smothered, or otherwise harmed. Rapid cleanup of oil spills reduces their damaging effects, but no method used alone is very effective. Methods for clean up currently include use of skimmers, devices that pass contaminated water through a moving, porous belt that collects the oil for removal. Devices called booms are like large fences placed around a spill to contain it. Oil absorbing materials, such as hay are sometimes dropped onto spilled oil, and the resulting oil-saturated debris is then scooped up. Sometimes detergents are used to dissolve the oil. Burning off the oil has also been attempted, though not effectively. The thin layer of oil does not burn readily, and produces air pollution if it burns at all.
Goals: In this investigation you will observe the effect of a detergent on oil that has been spilled on water, and you will infer its effect on bird feathers or any other types of materials your instructor has. You will then model a set of techniques that you think will be most effective in cleaning up an oil spill. You will test your techniques by using them to remove oil from a container of water.
Concepts: Some of the methods used to clean up oil spills are directly harmful because they pollute water, harm wildlife, or even spread the oil. Cleaning oil spills can be harmful to water birds because the substances used are harmful to the natural oils that coat the bird feathers. Cleaning substances can break up or dissolve these oils, which waterproof and insulate birds, providing buoyancy and warmth even in icy water.
Materials Needed:
| 2 beakers add water and oil to them | Any other approved materials your group decides to use to clean up the oil |
| Eyedroppers | Rubber gloves |
| Dishwashing liquid |
Part A
Obtain the materials CAUTION: The oil is poisonous. Wear rubber gloves, and be careful not to spill any. In your lab notebook describe the appearance of the oil mixture.
Add a small amount of detergent to the beaker, and stir gently, avoid creating air bubbles. Record your observations
Devise a plan for removing the spilled oil from water quickly and effectively. The plan should take no more than 5 minutes to carry out. You can invent simple devices or use any safe materials you wish. Describe the materials and procedures in your lab notebook. Present your plan for approval.
Part B
The second part involves testing out the materials. Obtain a beaker of water and oil. Again, CAUTION: The oil is poisonous.
Start a stopwatch or the teacher can say "Go" and begin to carry out your oil-spill removal technique. Your success will be judged on the basis of both speed and effectiveness. When you have finished to your satisfaction, record the amount of time, in minutes, you have taken. Describe the final appearance of the beaker and its contents in your lab notebook.
(In a classroom setting---The class and teacher will evaluate for the effectiveness of your oil removal technique and award a score of 1-5 (1 completely effective – 5 not effective). Record the score your group received)
Questions and things to record:
Initial appearance of oil and water mixture:
Appearance after adding and mixing detergent:
Description of proposed cleanup materials and procedure
Completion time:
Appearance after cleanup:
Effectiveness score:
How do you think the detergent produced the change you observed in Part A?
Add the amount of time taken to carry out your proposed procedure in Part B and the effectiveness score given to your group. Record the total number below (Note the smaller the number, the better the technique)
Why are both speed and effectiveness important in cleaning up oil spills in natural ecosystems?
Compare your groups performance results with those of the other groups of students. How much range was there in terms of time and effectiveness?
Conclusion:
Why might the addition of detergent to an oil spill be harmful to water birds?
What would you do to improve your oil clean up method?
What factors make the actual clean up of oil spills at sea particularly difficult?
In your lab report final discussion: Write an explanation of how you might adapt your materials and technique, or those of other students, to create a combined method of cleaning up oil spills at sea. Include a diagram or drawing (in your lab book) and discuss why you think your method may represent an improvement over methods used currently.
Website help:
http://www.cleanupoil.com/gallery.htm
http://oceanlink.island.net/oceanmatters/oil%20pollution.html