Proteinaceous oil spill dispersant

• US 5,399,350 A
• Filed: 03/08/1993
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nurture, Inc. (Ingredion Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nurture, Inc. (Ingredion Incorporated)
• Inventors: Potter, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Page, Thurman K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AZPURU, CARLOS A
• Application Number:
  US08/027,861
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 424/418, 424/499, 514/937, 514/951, 426/464, 426/467
• US Class Current: 424/418
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/04 Dispersions, emulsions, suspoemulsions, suspension concentrates or gels foams A01N25/16
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 27/80 Emulsions
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/46 Ingredients of undetermined constitution or reaction products thereof, e.g. skin, bone, milk, cotton fibre, eggshell, oxgall or plant extracts
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/06 Emulsions
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/64 Proteins; Peptides; Derivatives or degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/645 Proteins of vegetable origin; Derivatives or degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/9789 Magnoliopsida [dicotyledons]
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/9794 Liliopsida [monocotyledons]
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0014 Skin, i.e. galenical aspects of topical compositions non-active ingredients are additionally classified in A61K47/00; A61K9/0009, A61K9/0021, A61K9/7015, A61K9/7023 take precedence; cosmetic preparations A61K8/00, A61Q; preparations for wound dressings or bandages A61L26/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/7015 Drug-containing film-forming compositions, e.g. spray-on
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 15/00 Anti-perspirants or body deodorants deodorisation of air A61L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 17/02 containing insect repellants
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 17/04 Topical preparations for affording protection against sunlight or other radiation; Topical sun tanning preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 23/30 Proteins; Protein hydrolysates
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 3/32 for absorbing liquids to remove pollution, e.g. oil, gasoline, fat
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/204 Keeping clear the surface of open water from oil spills

Abstract

The present invention relates to a substantially intact proteinaceous particulate material that is effective as an oil spill dispersant composition. In a preferred respect, the invention is a grain product (such as oats) from which lipids are removed through organic solvent extraction. When such compositions are applied to an oil spill, they will adsorb oil, emulsify it, and finally disperse the oil with high efficiency. Moreover, the compositions are substantially non-toxic.

Claims

1. A method for dispersing an oil spill in open water, comprising the steps of:

providing an dispersant comprising a proteinaceous particulate material comprising milled seed material having oil sorptive and emulsifying properties; and

applying said dispersant to the oil spill on top of the water to disperse at least a portion of said oil spill wherein said proteinaceous particulate functions as a primary emulsifier for said oil.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said dispersant is derived from a cereal grain by milling and removal of lipids therefrom.

5. The method o f claim 1, wherein said seeds are selected from the group consisting of legumes and grains.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said seeds are selected from the group consisting of canola, beans, oats, rape seed, and soya.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said seeds are oats.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said proteinaceous, material is derived from grinding a starting protein source and extracting lipids from the resulting ground material with an organic solvent.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said proteinaceous material has a protein concentration of from about 10% to 50%.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said protein concentration is from about 20% to 30%.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said proteinaceous material has an average particle size of from about 1 μ

m to 600 μ

m.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said particle size is from about 100 μ

m to 300 μ

m.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said proteinaceous material is derived from oats and has a protein concentration of from about 20% to 30% and an average particle size of from about 100 μ

m to 300 μ

m.

14. The method of claims 1 or 12, wherein said proteinaceous material is buoyant and floats freely on the oil on top of water.

15. The method of claims 1 or 13, wherein said proteinaceous material is formed into a pellet.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said pellet is formed through contacting the proteinaceous material with a liquid and evaporating the liquid.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said pellet is formed through extruding the proteinaceous material with a binder.

18. The method of claims 16 or 17, wherein said binder is selected from the group consisting of magnesium salts, zinc salts, and calcium salts.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said pellet is coated with a material that is insoluble in water but soluble in oil.

20. The method of claims 1 or 15, wherein said proteinaceous material is mixed with an active culture of a bacterium that biodegrades oil.

3. A method for cleaning a solid surface contaminated with petroleum oil, comprising the steps of:

providing a proteinaceous particulate material comprising milled seed material having oil sorptive and emulsifying properties;

applying said proteinaceous material to said surface in such a manner that said proteinaceous material becomes intimately associated with said oil and sorbs said oil to form a proteinaceous material/oil combination that is readily dispensable in water; and

rinsing with water to remove said proteinaceous material and said oil.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said solid surface is part of an animal.

21. The method of claim 3, wherein the proteinaceous material is derived from oats from which lipids have been removed.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said proteinaceous material has a protein concentration of from about 10% to 50%.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said protein concentration is from about 20% to 30%.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said proteinaceous material has an average particle size of from about 1 μ

m to 600 μ

m.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said particle size is from about 100 μ

m to 300 μ

m.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein said proteinaceous material is derived from oats and has a protein concentration of from about 20% to 30% and an average particle size of from about 100 μ

m to 300 μ

m.