Response Demonstration Areas for Spills of Renewable and Bio-based Liquids
The project aimed to improve preparedness for spills of new-generation fuels by conducting demonstrations to study their behaviour in the event of a spill, and by carrying out tests to assess the applicability of oil recovery equipment.
The project has been completed.
Oil spill recovery testing for renewable fuels and liquids
Preparing for spills of new fuels and liquids
The field of oil and chemical spill response is facing a new challenge: the introduction of recycled raw materials and alternatives to replace fossil fuels, which also requires an
adaptation of the response capability.
Effective response measures necessitate knowledge of the hazardous properties of the substances, their spill behaviour and recoverability. To discover this information, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) launched this development project to carry out practical recovery tests.
New testing and training facilities
The tests were conducted at Xamk’s Oil Spill Response Test Basin in Kotka, Finland. The tests required the establishment of new research and testing environments.
Why was the project needed?
Substitutes for fossil fuels are becoming more common. This change will also have a reflection effect on environmental incidents and spill response preparedness: new substances will require new response competence. The project addressed this need by conducting practical tests at the Xamk Oil spill response test basin to determine the response potential of the new generation of fuels and their raw materials, and by disseminating the acquired knowledge through demonstrations to response operators.
The tests required the implementation of new research and testing structures. Three new platforms were built:
- research unit for spills on solid surfaces and in flowing waters,
- soil testing columns and
- a water aquarium for the demonstration and study of the spill behaviour of substances.
The structures complement the oil spill response testing and innovation platform and increase potential for methodological and product development.
How the spill behaviour and recovery tests were carried out?
The tests involved demonstrations of how spills behave in open water, on ice and in soil, as well as recovery tests.
A total of 27 demonstrations and tests were carried out on five novel products: technical animal fat, Neste MY Renewable Fuel Oil, liquefied waste plastic, crude tar oil and UPM BioVerno diesel. Reference products were used, including fossil light fuel oil, marine diesel oil and hydraulic oil, as well as heavy fuel oil and crude oil, albeit in limited quantities.
The testing proceeded in stages. First, the behaviour of the substances in the water when spilled was investigated. The aim was to observe whether the substances floated or sank, how they spread on the surface of the water, and how they mixed with it.
The renewable fuels tested did not differ significantly from their fossil fuel counterparts in terms of how they behaved when spilled. However, the raw materials used to produce the fuels, as well as the liquefied waste plastic, behaved differently to conventional oils.
What the results looked like?
The results of the spill behaviour tests were used to evaluate applicable response and recovery methods. The renewable fuels, recycled liquids and raw materials that were tested were categorised as either mechanically removable solids or recoverable liquids.
Skimmer recovery tests were carried out to verify the feasibility of the latter. It was found that some new-generation fuels have a higher tendency to form emulsions, leading to an increase in the total volume of recovered liquids and creating a greater need for intermediate storage capacity.
It was concluded that the type of skimmer chosen has a greater impact on the outcome than the origin of the fuel: significant differences in oil recovery efficiency were found between the various types of skimmers.
When evaluating the results, it must be taken into account that the tests were only carried out on a limited number of substances, and that products unsuitable for skimmer recovery were excluded on the basis of their spill behaviour. Therefore, these results should not be applied to products made from renewable, bio-based or recycled raw materials in general. Instead, the tests provided substance-specific information. In particular, the tests demonstrated the importance of selecting the most suitable recovery method for each product. Therefore, testing should be extended to a wider range of new-generation fuels.
The permeability and penetration of new fuels were determined in three soil types. The novel substances tested were found to be more permeable than fossil fuels, but there was little difference in the degree to which the substances were retained by the different soil types.
The project also made a comparison between oil absorption products made from renewable or recyclable materials and synthetic ones.
A general description was also provided of how spill response measures can incorporate sustainable development principles to minimise oily waste generation.
The project’s testing activities were the first of their kind, providing completely new information that was previously unavailable to the relevant authorities, refineries, and manufacturers of response equipment.
The results significantly impacted the target group’s response competency, and using this information in incidents involving novel substances can minimise harm to people and the environment. Participants’ knowledge of how to respond to new substances increased significantly, as reflected in both verbal and written feedback.
New research and testing infrastructures will enhance the oil spill response testing facility’s ability to generate new knowledge, deepen specialist expertise in environmental pollution, and innovate technological response solutions. This unique RDI environment will bolster the region’s expertise and facilitate international partnerships, given that the decarbonisation of fossil fuels is a global objective. Project results that strengthen RDI activities support the Kymenlaakso smart specialisation strategy (RIS3), the Kymenlaakso Regional Strategy, and the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region. The project’s results contribute to the ERF’s horizontal principle of sustainable development by reducing the environmental impact of spills involving new-generation fuels.
Publications
Responding to Spills of Marine Distillate Fuels
A Hair-Raising Novelty for Onshore Oil Recovery?
Contact
Facts
Response Demonstration Areas for Spills of Renewable and Bio-based Liquids
Info
Budget
The project was composed of a development project (A78380) and an investment project (A78383).
Project partners
