CLEANMAG° (Cleaning Magnetically) is a new material for the clean up of the water-borne oil spills and is based on the magnetic separation method. Comparing this innovative method with the existing oil spill cleaning up technologies it could be said that this is a revolutionary method against the marine oil pollution. CLEANMAG is an oil sorbing material in the form of granules, which is also magne
tic. The material is dispersed over the spill (by aerial or naval means) and can be collected by using boats equipped with ‘magnetic drum’ conveyor belt systems. Because of CLEANMAG’s oleophillic character the oil is quickly absorbed upon contact with the material at a weight ratio 1:6-9, while the granules are aggregated together due to their magnetic interaction. Therefore, it eliminates further oil spreading over the water surface by forming ‘a floating crust’, which can then be easily recollected even after days from the accident. CEEANMAG, unlike other oil cleanup methods can absorb up to 100% of the oil without • polluting the environment with chemical dispersants or solidifiers. All of the above methods have been proven insufficient for a thorough oil cleaning up of the water. Part of the oil still stays in the sea with all the negative consequences for the environment. Almost at every oil spill accident a minor oil quantity escapes into environment and eventually turns to a residual ‘pollution, accompanied with all the negative consequences for the ecology as well as for the shore based economicai activities. In addition, an extra amount of pollution is created by the (often) use of chemical dispersants, which although they produce a nice visual result, in reality help the accumulation of oil products on the seabed, thus contaminating the food chain and marine life.
