AboutDavid L. Russell, PE Expertise I`m a Chemical,Civil and Environmental Engineer and have a number of projects in all phases of the environment.
I have worked in the chemical industry and am active in professional societies, and am currently on an industrial wastes committee for the Water Environment Federation, and have taught courses in remediation in the US and abroad.
I have written one book on Remediation of petroleum Contaminated Sites, and have a second book on PRACTICAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT to be published by John Wiley in September, 2006. I've also written over 30 articles on various elements of environmental problems and cleanup. Most Recently, I have addressed a NATO Scientific and Techical Conference on Ecoterrorism, and have worked with the same group on remediation of sites contaminated with Chemical Warfare Agent materials and othe materials as well. . I can answer q`s about Chemical and Environmental Engineering, land development, air pollution, water pollution, soil and water cleanup, combustion, international environmental problems, industrial processes chemical processes. Civil and Environmental and Chemical Engineering. Overall, I have over 35 years of experience in this area. Note: I do not answer homework questions
Experience I love work in the third world and developing areas
because it is challenging and one can get a sense of accomplishment.
Question Mr. Russell,
I am a sixth grade student, and I need help regarding a Science Research Project. I am conducting an experiment on the effect of different substances on cleaning motor oil off of feathers. I am using Dawn dish soap, Arm and Hammer Baking Soda, Witch Hazel, and Aerogel (Frozen Smoke). I think that the Dawn dish soap will be the most effective in cleaning the motor oil off of the feathers. I have heard that Aerogel can absorb oil that is floating in water, but I am not so sure that it will work very well on the feathers. Do you have any ideas to make my experiment better? Any information would be very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Camryn
Answer There are a couple of things you can use to help the soap. The first is a detergent booster. As a suggestion you might go to the hardware store and get some TSP (it's cheap)and is a booster. TSP is short for Tri Sodium Phosphate, only now they are making it as "phosphate free" but it's a detergent booster. The second thing you can use is orange cleaner (d-liminol) available from Home Depot and other stores == it's orange and smells like an orange. Works well.
Mix either or both with the soap solution before application.
TSP is usually caustic, and I'm not sure about d-liminol, so wear glasses and I would prefer that you wear gloves when you use them. They have the power to pull the oils from your skin, and while that's not necessarily harmful, it's not necessarily pleasant either. Don't get any of the stuff in your eyes.
The Aerogel probably won't work as I understand that a) it's expensive, and b) it's a solid.
The standard trial for cleaning up oil spills is use a large aluminum pan (oven size), and put some sand and dirt in one end before you add the oil and water. Try a couple of different types of oil, such as motor oil or cooking oil. You will get very different results from a light oil versus a heavy oil. (SAE 10W is a light oil) SAE 50 and above is a heavier grade and harder to clean up.
When you add the oil to the water/soil, try and get it off the sand. It's not as easy as you think, and even harder with finer grained soils.
There is often a chemical interaction between the natural oil on the feathers and the oil of the spill and you can damage the feather while trying to get the oil off. Be sure that you take some photos of the materials you add a)in dry condition, b) in wet condition, c) after contact with the oil, d) after removing the oil while still wet, and e) after the oil has been removed and dried. Be sure to notice the smell of each before, during and after, as the smell will often tell you about how clean the product is.
Good luck. Hope that this helps.
