This is a Joint Industry Project (JIP) between MMS and Environment Canada to investigate the performance of sorbent materials used in the remediation of oil spills. A database will be developed to provide responders with firsthand information during a spill. The objectives of this study include: (1) develop a test procedure for sorbents used for oil spill remediation; (2) test these products to ensure repeatable, reliable, and representative data; and (3) generate a database of information from testing results to determine certifiable criteria.
Construction of the sorbent database is complete. The database is available through the Internet at http://www.etc-cte.ec.gc.ca/databases/Sorbent/Default.aspx. Manufacturers who test their sorbents at Ohmsett - The National Oil Spill Response Test Facility will have the opportunity to have their product tested with the new American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) protocol and results listed in the database, free of charge. More than 20 new sorbent entries were recently added to the database.