WOOLRES

Oil Recovery from the Sea Surface Using Wool

Description

Development of an innovative technique for the use of raw wool, with low economic value, to absorb oil or other hydrocarbons accidentally spilled into the sea.

Result to be enhanced

Development of an innovative technique and of a machine for adsorbing oil using raw wool with low economic value.

Why is it important?

The main impact can be for shepherds, which have sheep with wool not suitable for textile use and which, today, have to pay for the disposal of this material. We need to keep in mind that sheep must be shorn anyway for their own health. Another advantage can be for marine populations, affected by dispersion of heavy oils, together with humans living on the coasts near to such areas. Nowadays, in case of dispersion of heavy oils, chemicals are used, which allow only a partial recovery of oil, which, having additives like chemicals intrinsically bound to molecules, do not allow reuse and have to be treated as waste.