Overview of methods in Oil spill technology

Abstract

Over the decades oil spills have been the biggest threat to the aquatic life and to a nation’s economy. Many methods were suggested in the literature to remove the oil that is present on the surface of sea water after the spill. Hydrogel formation is one of the best technique that could be adopted to handle oil spills. Since the oil spill is a oil and water emulsion, formation of hydrogels with these emulsions could lead to the recovery of oil. The formation of hydrogels can be either physically crosslinking the polymer molecules or covalent bonding among the entangled polymer molecules. The methods of making the hydrogels conceivable to acquire surface hydrophobicity and oleophilicity. Hydrogel technology could be more cost effective and efficient in recovering the oil from the spill, eco-friendly and easy to use. It is proposed that the hydrogels could be potential candidates for handling the oil spills. The methods described in this review explains the various hydrogels that could be utilized for oil spill recovery.