Lab Report of Oil Spill Simulation Experiment
Introduction
The effectiveness of controlling and cleaning up oil spills depends on various aspects. Type of oil, location of the spill, the materials and methods used to absorb the oil and etc. are all influence the result of cleaning up oil. In this report, type of oil and quantity of oil spills are controlled. Same materials and methods are used on two different simulate environments, Open Ocean and sandy beach. 50 mL of oil made from vegetable oil with a little bit of food coloring simulates the crude oil. Plastic tub with a bag and filling with 1900 mL of cold tap water simulates the ocean space. Sandy Ocean environment is the ocean space added a sand dune in one corner of tub made by a full cup of sand. In each environment, 50mL Formula 409 and 25 cotton balls are worked together to absorb the oil as much as they can. How much oil is removed is calculated by volume measured by counting cup. About 60% oil should be removed from Open Ocean. And in Sandy Ocean, about 50% should be removed because portion of oil may absorb by sand. Formula 409 is a common cleanser which mainly ingredient is surfactants. “ Surfactants are amphiphilic; which means they both are water loving (hydrophilic) and water hating (hydrophobic) in equal measures and can join two liquids which are solely hydrophilic or hydrophobic.” (“Surfactants: the clean way to clear oil”). Surfactants should bring “wrapped oil” to the surface of water through emulsification. Cotton balls would absorb the “wrapped oil” thus the oil is cleaned.
Methods
Open Ocean 1. Line the plastic tub with a bag. Fill the tub with 1900 mL of cold tub water. 2. Obtain exactly 50 mL of “crude oil,” made from vegetable oil with a little bit of food coloring, and slowly pour it from a height of 1 cm into the tub. 3. Obtain exactly 50 mL of Formula 409, and slowly pour it from a height of 1 cm into the tub. 4. Wait for at least 1 minute. 5. Use cotton balls one by one to absorb the oil on the surface of water. 6. Squeeze the cotton ball above the empty and clean counting cup until all the liquid comes out. 7. Wait until the water and oil delaminate totally in the counting cup. 8. Measure how much oil is in the counting cup.
Sandy Ocean 1. Line the plastic tub with a bag. Fill the tub with 1900 mL of cold tub water. 2. Add a sand dune in one corner of tub made by a full cup of sand. 3. Obtain exactly 50 mL of “crude oil,” made from vegetable oil with a little bit of food coloring, and slowly pour it from a height of 1 cm into the tub. 4. Follow the step 3-8 in Open Ocean.
Result
As the experimental data in Table 1 show, finally in Open Ocean and Sandy Ocean, 40% and 30% of oil is removed from the water. The experimental data has an obvious disparity from the hypothesis.

Table 1: Experimental Data Group | Open Ocean | Material & Amount Used | % Oil Removed | 1 | Open Ocean | 25 Cotton Balls 50 mL Formula 409 | 40% | Group | S/R Beach | Material & Amount Used | % Oil Removed | 1 | Sandy Beach | 25 Cotton Balls 50 mL Formula 409 | 30% |
Discussion
Via observation during the experiment and analyzation after the experiment, why the disparity appears could be explain in follow reasons. Cotton balls’ water absorbing capacity is a reason. Even though the quantity of the cotton balls is controlled, but the quality of the cotton balls is not tested. Cotton actually is an ideal material for governing the oil spills problem.
“Cotton fibers take up oil in multiple ways, including both absorption and adsorption, in which oil sticks to the outer surface of the cotton fiber. The report concludes that in contrast to synthetic sorbents, raw cotton with its high crude oil sorption capacity and positive environmental footprint makes it an ecologically friendly sorbent for oil spill cleanups.” (“Using raw cotton to clean up oil spills”)
Although during the experiment, the human error is avoided as much as possible. However, experimental error is still a big reason that affects the result a lot. Through the observation, while squeezing the cotton ball, there is some oil stick on hand which may cause the error.
Expanding the view into the real world, oil spill problem has already caused impressively huge expense. Different solutions come up quickly. “UK scientists claim to have developed the world’s first magnetic soap as a way of helping clean up oil spills.” (“Magnetic soap could be used to help clean up oil spills”). Whatever kind of way to use, oil spill is an extremely urgent problem faced by all mankind.

Work Cited
“ Surfactants: the clean way to clear oil. ” Experimentation. Olivia Lynes n.d.
“ Using raw cotton to clean up oil spills. ” Advanced Materials & Processes. Vol. 171 Issue 7 (2013): p4-4. 1/3p. Print
“Magnetic soap could be used to help clean up oil spills. ” Engineer (Online Edition). 24 Jan. 2012. University of Bristol. 24 Jan.2012.