Oil Spill Cleanup

Oil spills pose a serious threat to water bodies, causing contamination and detrimental effects on aquatic life. This experiment aims to visually demonstrate the different cleaning processes of oil spills, offering children a tangible understanding of the necessity to maintain clean and healthy water environments.

This material also introduces science careers focusing on the fact that a scientist can work in a lab or in the field.

Possible observations:

• The water changed colour due to the oil.
• A visible layer of oil floated on the surface of the water.
• The oil spread out over the water, creating a thin film.
• Some oil adhered to the sides of the container or to objects in the water.

Discussion point:

Highlight how oil's lower density causes it to float and spread, emphasizing its persistence in the environment.

Possible reasons:

• Oil and water do not mix due to their different chemical properties.
• The oil film is thin and spreads widely, requiring precision and effort to collect it.
• Some oil clings to surfaces or breaks into smaller droplets, complicating cleanup.
• Tools like spoons or pipettes may inadvertently pick up water along with the oil.

Discussion point:

Discuss the real-world challenges of oil spill cleanups, such as environmental impact, equipment limitations, and the importance of using advanced technologies.

Possible methods and observations:

• Using a pipette or spoon: Effective for precise collection but slow and labor-intensive.
• Absorbent materials (e.g., paper towels, sponges): Useful for soaking up oil but may not reach all areas.
• Skimming tools: Effective for removing surface oil but may leave behind smaller droplets.
• Chemical dispersants or detergents: Break up oil into smaller droplets but could have environmental side effects.

Discussion point:

Encourage students to reflect on the pros and cons of each method and consider real-world trade-offs between efficiency, cost, and environmental impact.

The worksheet "Understanding oil spills" will help students to observe the effects of oil spills on water quality and to explore cleanup techniques. 

• Download as docx or as pdf.

With very young students, you can use the worksheet "Find out which method works best" which does not include any writing, but colouring and drawing.

• Download as docx or as pdf.

When substances dissolve in each other, it means that the particles that make up the substances interact well with each other. In principle, the more similar the type and strength of the interactions between the particles, the better the particles can interact with each other. Strong interactions, called hydrogen bonds, form between water molecules. Water is also known as a polar substance because there is a large difference in electronegativity between the atoms (H and O atoms) that make up the water molecules, and the resulting centres of charge are not in the same place due to the spatial arrangement of the atoms. In contrast, there are weak interactions, the interactions between temporary dipoles, between the molecules that make up oil. Oil is also called a non-polar substance because there is a small difference in electronegativity between the atoms that make up the oil molecules, resulting in no or very low centres of gravity. The nature and strength of the interactions between oil and water molecules are therefore so different that oil and water cannot mix. Important: When two substances mix, they do not react with each other!

Spoon and tongs: These tools can remove large chunks of oil from the surface. However, they struggle with smaller particles or thin layers, which often remain in the water.
Cotton: Cotton is excellent for absorbing oil due to its fibrous nature, which naturally holds onto nonpolar substances such as oil. This makes it effective for mopping up leftover oil after initial larger removals.
Pipette: Ideal for targeted cleanup in a controlled setting, pipettes can precisely remove small quantities of oil. They simulate the vacuum systems used at recovering oil on water. 
Containment booms (string loop): Often used in real-world oil spill responses, containment booms or "strings" are placed around the spill to prevent the spread of oil. This tool acts like a fence that keeps the oil confined to a smaller area, making it easier for other cleanup methods to be more effective. The boom helps to concentrate the oil, which can then be skimmed off or absorbed more efficiently.
Soap (dishwashing liquid): Soap is crucial in the cleanup process, but not directly in the cleaning itself. The use of soap initially leads to the mixing of oil and water. This leads to the formation of an emulsion in which small droplets of oil mix with the water. This helps in the cleanup process.

Containment booms and string loop

Real-world use: Containment booms are used to surround and contain the oil spill on the surface of the water. They prevent the oil from spreading further, especially important in protecting shorelines and other sensitive environments.
Classroom experiment: In the experiment, a string loop or a similar barrier can simulate the function of containment booms. By encircling the oil spill in the water container, students can observe how oil is kept within a confined area, making it easier to manage the cleanup.

Skimmers and spoon/tongs

Real-world use: Skimmers work on the principle of removing oil from the water’s surface. Different types of skimmers, such as weir and suction skimmers, are deployed based on the nature and extent of the spill.
Classroom experiment: Using spoons or tongs to scoop out oil simulates the action of skimmers. This hands-on activity helps students understand the principle of removing large quantities of oil from the surface, although on a much smaller and more manageable scale.

Sorbents and cotton

Real-world use: Sorbents, both natural and synthetic, are materials designed to absorb oil. They are widely used in oil spill response due to their efficiency in picking up oil while repelling water.
Classroom experiment: Cotton acts as a sorbent in the classroom setting. When students use cotton balls or pads to absorb oil, they can see firsthand how sorbents work to selectively pull oil away from water, which mimics real-world cleanup technologies.

Chemical dispersants and soap (dishwashing liquid)

Real-world use: Chemical dispersants are substances that break oil into smaller droplets, making it easier for microorganisms to degrade the oil or for it to mix more thoroughly with the water below the surface. They are typically sprayed over oil spills in marine environments. 
Classroom experiment: Adding dishwashing soap to the oil spill in a classroom experiment demonstrates the basic concept of chemical dispersants. However, in real life, soap harms marine life, pollutes the water, and spreads the oil further, making cleanup harder and more damaging to the environment. In real-life ocean spills, we sometimes use biological agents, like oil-eating bacteria, to help break down the oil naturally. These microorganisms consume the oil and convert it into less harmful substances.

Manual and mechanical recovery

Real-world use: This involves physically removing the oil using tools and machinery. Large-scale spills might require equipment like pumps and vacuums.
Classroom experiment: Using pipettes or syringes to remove oil droplets from the experiment container allows students to engage in a small-scale version of mechanical recovery. It gives them a tactile sense of how careful and meticulous the process of oil removal can be.

Soap in classroom experiments

Function: In classroom settings, soap acts as a simple and safe demonstration tool to show how surfactants work. Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension between two substances, such as oil and water. Soap contains surfactant molecules that have two ends: one that is hydrophilic (water-attracting) and another that is hydrophobic (water-repellent). When soap is added to an oil-contaminated water sample in an experiment, it surrounds oil droplets, making them easier to break apart and mix with water.
Purpose: The primary goal of using soap in educational experiments is to visually demonstrate the concept of emulsification, where oil is broken into smaller droplets that can be more easily dispersed in water.

Chemical dispersants in real-world oil spills

Function: Chemical dispersants used in marine oil spills are much like soap in that they are surfactants. However, they are specially formulated for environmental use, particularly in marine settings. These dispersants are engineered to quickly break down large oil slicks into smaller droplets that natural bacteria in the ocean can more easily digest, or that can dilute more readily in the marine environment.

Use: Unlike soap, these dispersants are designed to be environmentally safe for use in large volumes and specific conditions found in marine oil spills. They are applied in situations where mechanical recovery is impractical or when the oil has spread too widely or thinly to be contained effectively by booms or removed by skimmers.

Regulations and environmental impact: The use of chemical dispersants is strictly regulated. Environmental agencies, such as the European Environment Agency (EEA) on a European level, the Environment Agency in the United Kingdom, or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States, must approve their use based on factors including the type of oil, the sea state, proximity to shorelines, and potential impacts on marine life and habitats. These dispersants are part of a calculated response to minimize the overall environmental damage caused by an oil spill. However, the use of dispersants is not without environmental problems. The chemicals in the dispersants can be toxic to marine life, and the dispersed oil droplets can also infiltrate deeper into the water, potentially affecting organisms that live in deeper parts of the ocean.

Important distinction

No soap in the ocean: It’s crucial to note that regular household soaps or detergents are never used in actual ocean or marine environments to combat oil spills. They are not designed for such use and can be harmful to marine life. Regular soap can harm fish and marine life, pollute the water, and deplete oxygen levels, which creates areas where animals can't survive. Soap can also spread the oil, making cleanup harder.

Easier

• Provide clear step-by-step instructions
• Focus on visual observations and basic interactions (e.g. observe how different water temperatures affect the spread of the oil)
• Use straightforward cleaning tools like cottons or spoons to make it easier for students to grasp the basic principles of oil removal

More challenging

• Add more variables such as simulated wave action in the water
• Try different chemical dispersants and observe their effects

Further activity: Discussion about real oil spills

Questions that can be discussed in the classroom

• Discuss why cleaning oil spills in real environmental scenarios might be challenging based on your observations.
• How do you think oil spills affect aquatic life and the environment?
• Who cleans oil spills?

Further activity: role-playing game

Students assume the roles of different stakeholders in an oil spill scenario — such as environmental scientists, government officials, or local business owners — which allows them to explore the multidimensional impacts of environmental issues.

Careers in science often extend far beyond what students might initially imagine. Highlighting organizations like the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) demonstrates the dynamic nature of scientific research. At EMBL, scientists delve into molecular research that not only expands our understanding of life at the cellular level but also impacts fields such as medicine, agriculture, and environmental science. By showcasing visuals of scientists working in high-tech labs and applying their findings to real-world problems, students can see how molecular biology plays a vital role in addressing global challenges. This example helps break the misconception that scientific careers are confined to laboratories, showing students how research directly influences society and ecosystems.

Science is not limited to indoor settings—it often involves exploration and adventure. Using the EMBL TREC Expedition as an example, students can see how scientists venture into uncharted territories to conduct field research. Whether it's studying remote ecosystems, collecting environmental data, or observing wildlife, fieldwork provides hands-on opportunities to understand and protect the natural world. These experiences combine scientific knowledge with the thrill of exploration, showing students that science can be an adventurous and deeply rewarding career path. This example highlights the exciting diversity of scientific careers, appealing to students who are drawn to the outdoors or hands-on work.

Real-world examples like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico demonstrate how scientists respond to environmental crises. After the spill, teams of marine biologists, ecologists, chemists, and engineers worked together to assess the immediate and long-term environmental damage. They studied the spill’s impact on marine life, developed innovative cleanup methods, and provided critical insights into preventing future disasters. This case study exemplifies the interdisciplinary nature of science, where collaboration across fields leads to impactful solutions. It also reinforces how scientific knowledge can directly benefit the planet and its inhabitants, inspiring students to pursue careers that address pressing environmental challenges.

The goal is to show students how classroom topics, such as environmental science, pollution, or molecular biology, are directly linked to real-world careers. This helps them understand the relevance of what they are learning and explore potential career paths.

• Environmental Science & Pollution
  Relate oil spill cleanup activities to careers like environmental engineers, marine biologists, or environmental policy makers. For example, you can explain how environmental scientists design and implement oil spill cleanup methods, study the effects of pollution on ecosystems, or work to create policies that prevent future spills.
• Molecular Biology
  Discuss how molecular biologists study microorganisms that degrade oil. Highlight careers in biotechnology or research, where professionals develop new strains of bacteria to clean oil spills more efficiently or study the molecular mechanisms involved in oil degradation.

Facilitate discussions: Use the Deepwater Horizon case study to discuss the interdisciplinary nature of science and how various fields come together to solve complex problems.

Inspire project-based learning: Encourage students to simulate problem solving in real-world scenarios, such as designing their own oil spill cleanup strategies or researching careers in marine biology and sustainability.