ABSTRACT 2017-076 In this paper, we discuss a new class of i-PetroGel oil-superabsorbent technology that has shown a potential solution to the oil spill recovery and cleanup in arctic environments, based on the laboratory tests at Penn State and an open tank test at Ohmsett. This i-PetroGel material is formed by polyolefin polymers that are petroleum downstream products with similar oleophilic and hydrophobic properties of oil molecules. Apart from many oil sorbents based on adsorption, i-PetroGel absorbs oil by absorption (similar to Hydrogel absorbing aqueous solutions) and swells to a large volume. During Ohmsett testing, i-PetroGel flakes spread on top of the affected area showed effective transformation of Alaska North Slope (ANS) oil into a floating gel on the seawater surface, which was effectively recovered by an oleophilic drum skimmer and pumped to a storage tank. The recovered ANS oil-swelled adducts, containing <0.1 wt% water, exhibit similar distillation characteristics as the original ANS oil. Overall, this i-PetroGel technology could potentially provide a comprehensive solution for combating oil spills, with the goal to dramatically reduce the environmental impacts from oil spills and help recover one of the most precious natural resources. i-PetroGel exhibits a combination of desirable properties. ✓ High oil absorption capacity about 35–40 times by weight at 3 and 25 °C. ✓ Suitable to a broad range of hydrocarbons, including complex crude oils, refined oil products (gasolines, diesels, heating oils, etc.), and solvents (toluene, benzene, etc.). ✓ Fast kinetics in capturing the spilled oil. ✓ No detectable water absorption in i-PetroGel. ✓ The resulting oil/i-PetroGel adducts floating on water surface are recovered by skimmer. ✓ The recovered oil/i-Petrogel adducts can be refined as crude oil through standard refining processes. ✓ Cost effective. ✓ No secondary pollution.