Cleaning Up Oil Spills

Name: ______HR:____ Date: _____

Problem: What effect do detergents used to clean up oil spills have on birds, and what are the most effective ways of cleaning up oil spills?

Introduction

Oil spills at sea and on land 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 cleanup currently include the 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 around a spill to contain it. Oil-absorbing materials, such as hay, are some times dropped onto spilled oil on the tundra. The oil saturated debris is them 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.

Some of the methods used to clean up oil spills are directly harmful because they pollute the water, harm wildlife, or even spread the oil. Cleaning oil spills can be harmful to water birds because the substances used are harmful to natural oils that coat the birds’ feathers. Cleaning substances can break up or dissolve these oils, which waterproof and insulate birds, providing buoyancy and warmth even in the icy water.

Materials (per team)

  • a beaker containing a mixture of water and crude oil
  • tablespoon
  • metal pan
  • rubber band
  • dishwashing liquid
  • other cleaning materials—paper towels, string, powdered detergent
  • rubber gloves
  • goggles
  • apron

Instructions:

PART A

  1. Make a prediction about the outcome of this experiment and write it on the Lab Notebook Investigation 15 data sheet attached.
  2. Gather the materials at your table.
  3. Cover the bottom of your pan with water and float a rubber band onto the surface tension of the water. Simulate an oil spill contained by a boom in the ocean by carefully spooning in the oil/water from the beaker into the open center area of the rubber band. Did the boom (rubber band) contain the oil? Why or Why Not?
  4. Now add 1 tablespoon of detergent to a beaker of oil/water and stir gently to avoid creating air bubbles. Record your observations on the data sheet.
  5. Using the results of your observations and the remaining contents of your oil/water beaker, devise a plan for removing 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 procedure on the Lab Notebook: Investigation 14 data sheet.
  6. Present your plan to Ms. Scribner for approval. Note: Burning the oil will not be allowed.

PART B

  1. On ______bring to class the materials Ms. Scribner has approved. Obtain a beaker of water and oil from Ms. Scribner. CAUTION: The oil is poisonous. Wear rubber gloves, an apron, and goggles. Be careful not to spill any oil.
  2. When Ms. Scribner says “GO!” 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, raise your hand and record the amount of time in minutes, you have taken. Describe the final appearance of the beaker and its contents in your Lab Notebook: Investigation 15 data sheet.
  3. Ms. Scribner will evaluate the effectiveness of your oil removal technique and aware a score from 1 to 5 (5 for completely effective and 1 for completely ineffective). Record the score your group received.