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Title:
METHODOLOGIES AND ASSAYS FOR DETERMINING THE EFFICACY OF PRECONDITIONERS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2009/076720
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The efficacy of a preconditioner, in the removal of an oily contaminant from a substrate such as feathers, animal or human skin, textiles or soil, is determined by contacting the. oily substrate with the preconditioner; contacting the preconditioned oily substrate with finely divided iron material to adsorb a portion of the oily contaminant; removing the iron material magnetically; and determining a mass or proportion of oily contaminant removed. The preconditioners tested or screened in this way can include, for example, olive oil, canola oil, and methyl oleate. A computer database of efficacies can be compiled from the results.

Inventors:
ORBELL JOHN (AU)
BIGGER STEPHEN (AU)
NGEH LAWRENCE (AU)
VAN DAO HIEN (AU)
Application Number:
PCT/AU2008/001863
Publication Date:
June 25, 2009
Filing Date:
December 18, 2008
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY (AU)
ORBELL JOHN (AU)
BIGGER STEPHEN (AU)
NGEH LAWRENCE (AU)
VAN DAO HIEN (AU)
International Classes:
A61Q1/14; B03C1/005; B09C1/08; D06M11/83; D06M16/00; D06M19/00; G01N33/26
Foreign References:
BE1009136A61996-12-03
JPH11253923A1999-09-21
JP2004224782A2004-08-12
Other References:
H.V. DAO: "An Investigation into Factors Affecting the Efficacy of Oil Removal from Wildlife Using Magnetic Particle Technology", PHD THESIS, 10 May 2007 (2007-05-10), Retrieved from the Internet [retrieved on 20090220]
"Index of/adt-VVUT/uploads/approved/adt-VVUT20070510.163002/public", Retrieved from the Internet [retrieved on 20090304]
"Marine Pollution Bulletin", vol. 52, 2006, ELSEVIER LTD, article H.V. DAO ET AL.: "Magnetic cleansing of weathered/tarry oiled features - The role of pre- conditioners", pages: 1591 - 1594
J.D. ORBELL ET AL.: "An investigation into the removal of oil from rock using magnetic particle technology", MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN, 29 October 2007 (2007-10-29), Retrieved from the Internet [retrieved on 20090304]
"Environmentalist", vol. 27, 23 February 2007, SPRINGER, article J.D. ORBELL ET AL.: "Magnetic particle technology in environmental remediation and wildlife rehabilitation", pages: 175 - 182, XP019500445, doi:10.1007/s10669-007-9026-7
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
CAINE, Michael James et al. (1 Nicholson StreetMelbourne, Victoria 3000, AU)
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Claims:

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A method for determining the efficacy of a preconditioner in the removal of an oily contaminant from a substrate, said method comprising the following steps: a) contacting the substrate with the oily contaminant to provide an oily substrate; b) contacting the oily substrate with said preconditioner to provide a preconditioned oily substrate; c) contacting said preconditioned oily substrate with finely divided iron material such that at least a portion of the oily contaminant is adsorbed onto the iron material; d) removing the iron material and adsorbed contaminant from the substrate magnetically; e) determining a mass and/or proportion of oily contaminant removed and using said determined mass or proportion as a measure of the efficacy of the preconditioner.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate is of animal origin.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the substrate is bird feather.

4. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the substrate is human skin.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate is of plant origin.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate is of mineral origin.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the substrate is any one of soil, sand or rock.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate is fabric.

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the preconditioner is selected from canola oil, Biodispersol, olive oil, blended oil, Sanccob preconditioner and methyl oleate.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the oily contaminant is selected from crude oil, diesel oil, bunker oil, tarry oil and seawater/oil mixture.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10 for quantifying the efficacy of preconditioner in the removal of oily contaminant from substrate by finely divided iron material.

12. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10 for quantifying the efficacy of preconditioner in the removal of oily contaminant from substrate by surfactant.

13. The method of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein steps c) to e) are performed N times, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

14. An assay for quantifying the efficacy of one or more preconditioners in the removal of one or more oily contaminants from one or more substrates, said assay comprising the following steps: a) contacting separately each of said one or more substrates with oily contaminant to provide one or more oily substrates; b) contacting separately the or each oily substrate with preconditioner to provide a plurality of separate preconditioned oily substrates; c) contacting said separate preconditioned oily substrates with a finely divided iron material such that at least a portion of the oily contaminant is adsorbed onto the iron material; d) removing the iron material and adsorbed contaminant from the substrates magnetically; e) determining a mass and/or proportion of oily contaminant removed from each substrate and using said determined mass or proportion as a measure of the efficacy of the preconditioner contacted to substrate.

15. A method for generating a database of information relating to the efficacy of preconditioners in the removal of oily contaminants from substrates, said method comprising the following steps: a) contacting a plurality of substrates with a plurality of oily contaminants to provide a plurality of oily substrates, each oily substrate comprising a single substrate in contact with a single contaminant; b) contacting the oily substrates with preconditioner to provide a plurality of preconditioned oily substrates, each preconditioned oily substrate comprising a single oily substrate in contact with a single preconditioner; c) contacting separately the preconditioned oily substrates with a finely divided iron material such that at least a portion of the oily contaminant is adsorbed onto the iron material; d) removing the iron material and adsorbed contaminant from the substrates magnetically; e) determining a mass and/or proportion of oily contaminant removed from each substrate and using said determined mass or proportion as a measure of the efficacy of the preconditioner contacted to substrate;

f) compiling a database including information relating to mass or proportion of oily contaminant removed to type of oily contaminant, type of substrate and type of preconditioner.

16. A method of screening one or more agents intended or suspected to act as preconditioner in the removal of oily contaminants from substrates, said method comprising the following steps: a) contacting a plurality of substrates with a plurality of oily contaminants to provide a plurality of oily substrates, each oily substrate comprising a single substrate in contact with a single contaminant; b) contacting the oily substrates with agent intended or suspected to act as preconditioner to provide a plurality of preconditioned oily substrates, each preconditioned oily substrate comprising a single oily substrate in contact with a single preconditioner; c) contacting separately the preconditioned oily substrates with a finely divided iron material such that at least a portion of the oily contaminant is adsorbed onto the iron material; d) removing the iron material and adsorbed contaminant from the substrates magnetically; e) determining a mass and/or proportion of oily contaminant removed from each substrate and using said determined mass or proportion as a measure of the efficacy of agent intended or suspected to act as a preconditioner in the removal of oily contaminants from substrates.

17. The use of information derived from the method or assay of any one of claims 1 to 16 in the generation of a database.

18. A database compiled from information gained by performing the steps of the method or assay according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

19. A method of informing an interested party of the most suitable preconditioner for use in the removal of a known oily contaminant from a known substrate, the method comprising providing to the interested party information contained in a database according to claim 17.

20. A method of informing an interested party of the efficacy of a preconditioner in the removal of an oily contaminant from a substrate of animal origin comprising programming

a computer system to respond to inputted variables comprising the type of the substrate and/or the type of the oily contaminant, the information programmed into the computer system comprising information contained in the database according to claim 17. 21. The method of claim 20 wherein the computer system capable of responding to inputted variables comprises a portable device capable of displaying the information.

Description:

METHODOLOGIES AND ASSAYS FOR DETERMINING THE EFFICACY OF PRECONDITIONERS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to methods and assays for quantifying the efficacy of certain agents, referred to as preconditioners, in the removal of oily contaminants from substrates. These substrates include animal and plant derived materials, such as skin, feathers, fur and natural fabrics, as well as inorganic materials or minerals, such as rock, soil and sand. The invention further provides a method for screening substances for use as preconditioners, methods for generating databases of information relating to the efficacy of preconditioners and methods for providing information relating to the efficacy of preconditioners with reference to such databases.

Background of the Invention

Traditionally, oily contaminants are removed from substrates using surfactants and water. In certain applications, the efficiency of this method is less than desirable, and certain agents known as preconditioners are employed. These agents are believed to assist in the oily contaminant removal process. Without wishing to be limited by theory, these agents are believed to mix with higher molecular weight fractions within the oily contaminants, reducing the strength of the interactions of those fractions with the surface of the substrate. Another theory suggests that preconditioners reduce the viscosity of the oily contaminant allowing greater penetration by the water and surfactant. It is also believed that certain preconditioners perform more optimally given a particular combination of substrate and oily contaminant. Examples of preconditioners in current use include olive oil, canola oil and methyl oleate. Pre-conditioning agents are used in a range of applications as diverse as wildlife and environmental rehabilitation following oil spills, fabric cleaning and cosmetic make-up removal.

The efficacy of preconditioners in the removal of oily contaminants from substrates is difficult to quantify, due in part to traditional surfactant-based oil removal technology not being amenable to quantitative assay. Moreover, to date, no method has been developed to quantify the efficacy of preconditioners in the removal of an oily contaminant from a substrate. Information pertaining to the effectiveness of preconditioners in assisting with oily contaminant removal is usually communicated anecdotally or speculatively. Given the importance of this class of substances in a variety of applications, there is a very real and pressing need for a method of quantifying the efficacy of a given preconditioner in the removal of a given oily contaminant from a given substrate.

It is known that finely divided elemental iron (iron powder) has a high adsorptive affinity for organic substances, including various oils. When iron powder is applied to oil in a glass container, the oil is rapidly adsorbed onto the surface of the iron particles. The oil-laden iron powder may then be readily removed following the application of a magnetic field. Successive applications of this process can effect complete removal of the oil from the glass container.

The use of finely divided iron material in the removal of oily contaminants from feathers has recently been the subject of investigation by the present inventors. See for example J.D. Orbell et al, Cleansing Oiled Feathers-Magnetically, Marine Pollution Bulletin (1999) 38(3), 219-221, and J.D. Orbell et al. Whole-bird models for the magnetic cleansing of oiled feathers, Marine Pollution Bulletin (2004) 48, 336-340, and J.D. Orbell et al, Acute temperature dependency in the cleansing of tarry feathers utilising magnetic particles, Environ. Chem. Lett. (2005) 3, 22-27, and H. V. Dao et al. Removal of petroleum tar from bird feathers utilising magnetic particles, Environ. Chem. Lett. (2006) 4, 111-113, and H. V. Dao et al, Achievement of 100% Removal of Oil from Feathers Employing Magnetic Particle Technology, J. Environ. Eng. (2006) 132(5), 555-559.

Assays and methodologies have now been developed which allow the efficacy of a preconditioner in the removal of oily contaminants from substrates to be quantified or at least compared to other preconditioners based on this iron removal technique. The assays and methodologies of the present invention allow the generation of information which is

useful in determining the nature of a preconditioner, and its method of use, in a particular application involving the removal of an oily contaminant from a substrate, as well as the generation of information relating to the efficacy of preconditioners or new combinations of existing preconditioners.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect the present invention provides a method for determining the efficacy of a preconditioner in the removal of an oily contaminant from a substrate, said method comprising the following steps:

1. contacting the substrate with the oily contaminant to provide an oily substrate;

2. contacting the oily substrate with said preconditioner to provide a preconditioned oily substrate;

3. contacting said preconditioned oily substrate with finely divided iron material such that at least a portion of the oily contaminant is adsorbed onto the iron material;

4. removing the iron material and adsorbed contaminant from the substrate magnetically;

5. determining a mass and/or proportion of oily contaminant removed and using said determined mass or proportion as a measure of the efficacy of the preconditioner.

In a second aspect the present invention provides an assay for quantifying the efficacy of one or more preconditioners in the removal of one or more oily contaminants from one or more substrates, the assay comprising the following steps:

1. contacting separately each of said one or more substrates with oily contaminant to provide one or more oily substrates;

2. contacting separately the or each oily substrate with preconditioner to provide a plurality of separate preconditioned oily substrates;

3. contacting said separate preconditioned oily substrates with a finely divided iron material such that at least a portion of the oily contaminant is adsorbed onto the iron material;

4. removing the iron material and adsorbed contaminant from the substrates magnetically;

5. determining a mass and/or proportion of oily contaminant removed from each substrate and using said determined mass or proportion as a measure of the efficacy of the preconditioner contacted to substrate.

In a third aspect the present invention provides a method for generating a database of information relating to the efficacy of preconditioners in the removal of oily contaminants from substrates, said method comprising the following steps:

1. contacting a plurality of substrates with a plurality of oily contaminants to provide a plurality of oily substrates, each oily substrate comprising a single substrate in contact with a single contaminant;

2. contacting the oily substrates with preconditioner to provide a plurality of preconditioned oily substrates, each preconditioned oily substrate comprising a single oily substrate in contact with a single preconditioner;

3. contacting separately the preconditioned oily substrates with a finely divided iron material such that at least a portion of the oily contaminant is adsorbed onto the iron material;

4. removing the iron material and adsorbed contaminant from the substrates magnetically;

5. determining a mass and/or proportion of oily contaminant removed from each substrate and using said determined mass or proportion as a measure of the efficacy of the preconditioner contacted to substrate;

6. compiling a database including information relating to mass or proportion of oily contaminant removed to type of oily contaminant, type of substrate and type of preconditioner.

In a fourth aspect the present invention provides a method of screening one or more agents intended or suspected to act as preconditioner in the removal of oily contaminants from substrates, said method comprising the following steps:

1. contacting a plurality of substrates with a plurality of oily contaminants to provide a plurality of oily substrates, each oily substrate comprising a single substrate in contact with a single contaminant;

2. contacting the oily substrates with agent intended or suspected to act as preconditioner to provide a plurality of preconditioned oily substrates, each preconditioned oily substrate comprising a single oily substrate in contact with a single preconditioner;

3. contacting separately the preconditioned oily substrates with a finely divided iron material such that at least a portion of the oily contaminant is adsorbed onto the iron material;

4. removing the iron material and adsorbed contaminant from the substrates magnetically;

5. determining a mass and/or proportion of oily contaminant removed from each substrate and using said determined mass or proportion as a measure of the efficacy

of agent intended or suspected to act as a preconditioner in the removal of oily contaminants from substrates;

Each of these aspects of the invention may include additional steps, for example the oily substrates may be contacted with finely divided iron material and subjected to the magnetic removal process one or more times prior to contact with the preconditioner. Similarly, steps 3 to 5 may be repeated one or more times, for example to achieve a desired or predetermined level of removal. Similarly, in the course of oily contaminant removal, oily substrate may be contacted with preconditioner on more than one occasion.

In other aspects of the invention there are provided methods for utilising the information gathered according to one or more of the above four aspects of the invention. According to these aspects the information can be used to:

1. determine a suitable or optimum preconditioner for use in removing a particular oily contaminant from a particular substrate;

2. determine a suitable or optimum oily contaminant removal protocol for using a particular preconditioner in the removal of a particular oily contaminant from a particular substrate, for example, determining a suitable or optimum number of pre- treatment steps (eg using surfactants with water or finely divided iron material and magnetic removal) prior to contacting a substrate with preconditioner, or determining the optimal temperature for the process, or determining the number or extent of oily contaminant removal steps (magnetic, surfactant or otherwise) required following the contact with preconditioner;

3. determining the relative efficacy of one preconditioner to another in the removal of a particular oily contaminant from a particular substrate;

4. determining the efficacy of a preconditioner in a process for removal of an oily contaminant from a substrate relative to a similar process conducted in the absence of a preconditioner;

5. determining the efficacy of a preconditioner in removing a particular oily contaminant from a particular substrate relative to a standard removal protocol or a standard level of efficacy.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention provides in several aspects: a method for determining the efficacy of a preconditioner in the removal of an oily contaminant from a substrate; an assay for quantifying the efficacy of one or more preconditioners in the removal of one or more oily contaminants from one or more substrates; a method for generating a database of information relating to the efficacy of preconditioners in the removal of oily contaminants from substrates; and a method of screening an agent intended or suspected to act as a preconditioner in the removal of oily contaminants from substrates. It is understood that some of these aspects possess a degree of procedural commonality between each other. These common features will now be explained in further detail with reference to the first aspect.

In a first aspect the present invention provides a method for determining the efficacy of a preconditioner in the removal of an oily contaminant from a substrate. In the context of the present invention the term 'efficacy' is understood to mean the capacity to produce an effect. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the effect refers to the change in adsorption of an oily contaminant to a substrate. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the effect refers to the decrease in adsorption of an oily contaminant to a substrate, for example a decrease in adsorption of crude oil onto penguin feathers. In the context of the present invention, it is understood that the term 'efficacy' may refer to a relative measure of one determined effect to another.

In the context of the present invention the term 'preconditioner' is understood to mean an agent that modifies a process through a chemical and/or physical interaction with one or more of the components of that process. In the context of the present invention the prefix

'pre' in 'preconditioner' does not impart any temporal constraint on a process for the application of preconditioner. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said preconditioner refers to a chemical, or mixture of chemicals, capable of interacting with oily contaminant and/or substrate. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, preconditioner is a chemical, or mixture of chemicals, capable of mixing with oily contaminant assisting in its removal from substrate. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, preconditioner is selected from olive oil, blends of detergents and cooking oil (for example 'Sanccob' preconditioner available from the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds), canola oil, blends of oils (for example canola oil with soybean oil, hereinafter referred to as 'Blended Oil'), methyl oleate and mixtures of vegetable extracts and surfactants (for example 'Bio-dispersol' available from Victorian Chemical Co. Pty. Ltd.) or mixtures thereof.

In the context of the present invention the term 'removal' is understood to mean the removal in part, or in whole, of one component from another, for example the displacement of oil-laden iron material from substrate.

In the context of the present invention, 'oily contaminant' is understood to mean one or more substantially lipophilic substances appropriate for removal from substrate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention oily contaminant is a substantially lipophilic substance nominally identified by chemical constitution and/or origin. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, oily contaminant comprises a mixture of different chemical compounds. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, oily contaminant is selected from crude oil, diesel oil, bunker oil, tarry oil and seawater/oil mixture.

In the context of the present invention, 'substrate' is understood to mean the material of which something is made. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, substrate is substantially solid. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, substrate is animal or plant derived. In a further embodiment of the present invention, substrate is selected from animal skin, animal fur, animal feather and substantially natural fabric. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, substrate is selected from human skin,

duck feather, penguin feather, wool and cotton. In another embodiment of the present invention, substrate is of inorganic or mineral origin. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, substrate is selected from sand, soil, rock. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, substrate is substantially synthetic fabric.

The method of the first aspect of the present invention comprises the following steps:

1. Contacting the substrate with the oily contaminant to provide an oily substrate. In the context of the present invention, the process of 'contacting' the substrate with the oily contaminant involves the substrate and the oily contaminant being brought into close physical proximity in order for an interaction between the oily contaminant and the substrate to occur. This interaction provides an entity referred to as an 'oily substrate'. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oily contaminant is substantially immobilised and the substrate is added to the oily contaminant, for example the oily contaminant (eg crude oil) may be placed in a vessel (eg petri dish) and the substrate (eg cluster of penguin feathers) is added to, and subsequently taken from, said vessel. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the substrate is substantially immobilised and the oily contaminant is added to the substrate, for example a substantially liquid oily contaminant (eg bunker oil) may be poured onto a substrate (eg rock) which may be stationary on a support (eg wire platform). In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the substrate and oily contaminant are brought into close physical proximity in order for an interaction between the oily contaminant and the substrate to occur and the so-provided oily substrate is allowed for a period of time to drain of excess oily contaminant. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oily contaminant is of substantially liquid form and is immobilised, the substrate is added to the oily contaminant before the now oily substrate is removed from excess oily contaminant and allowed to drain of further excess oily contaminant. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process of contacting oily contaminant with substrate may be accelerated during admixing, for example by rubbing oily contaminant into substrate. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process of contacting the substrate with the oily contaminant to provide an oily substrate involves the application of one or more external factors such as heat, shear and light, or more generally, weather. In a

further preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more external factors are applied to the oily substrate over a period of time. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, one of more external factors are applied to the oily substrate for up to three weeks.

2. Contacting the oily substrate with said preconditioner to provide a preconditioned oily substrate. In the context of the present invention, the process of 'contacting' the oily substrate with the preconditioner involves the oily substrate and the preconditioner being brought into close physical proximity in order for an interaction between the preconditioner and the oily substrate to occur. This interaction provides an entity referred to as a 'preconditioned oily substrate'. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the preconditioner is substantially immobilised and the oily substrate is added to the preconditioner, for example the preconditioner (eg canola oil) may be placed in a vessel (eg petri dish) and the oily substrate (eg crude oil/penguin feathers) is added to, and subsequently taken from, said vessel. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oily substrate is substantially immobilised and the preconditioner is added to the oily substrate, for example substantially liquid preconditioner (eg canola oil) may be poured onto oily substrate (eg bunker oil/rock) which may be stationary on a support (eg wire platform). In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oily substrate and preconditioner are brought into close physical proximity in order for an interaction between the preconditioner and the substrate to occur and the so-provided preconditioned oily substrate is allowed for a period of time to drain of excess preconditioner. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process of contacting preconditioner with oily substrate may be accelerated during admixing, for example by rubbing preconditioner into oily substrate. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process of contacting the oily substrate with the preconditioner to provide a preconditioned oily substrate involves the application of one or more external factors such as those mentioned above. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more external factors are applied to the oily substrate over a period of time.

3. Contacting said preconditioned oily substrate with finely divided iron material such that at least a portion of the oily contaminant is adsorbed onto the iron material. In the context of the present invention, 'finely divided iron material 1 is understood to mean a fine particulate material substantially composed of elemental iron. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the finely divided iron material is iron powder. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the finely divided iron material is selected from the grades: spongy coarse, atomized fine un-annealed, atomized fine annealed, atomized superfine and spongy superfine. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the finely divided iron material comprises a polymer coating and/or a ceramic coating. In the context of the present invention, the process of 'contacting' the preconditioned oily substrate with the finely divided iron material involves the preconditioned oily substrate and the finely divided iron material being brought into close physical proximity in order for an interaction between the finely divided iron material and the preconditioned oily substrate to occur. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the finely divided iron material is substantially immobilised and the oily substrate is added to the preconditioned oily substrate, for example the iron material may be substantially immobilised in a vessel (eg petri dish) and the preconditioned oily substrate (eg canola oil/crude oil/penguin feathers) is added to, and subsequently taken from, said vessel. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the preconditioned oily substrate is substantially immobilised and the finely divided iron material is added to the preconditioned oily substrate, for example iron material may be poured/sprinkled onto preconditioned oily substrate (eg canola oil/bunker oil/rock) which may be stationary on a support (eg wire platform). In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process of contacting iron material with preconditioned oily substrate may be accelerated during admixing, for example by rubbing iron material into preconditioned oily substrate. In the context of the present invention, the process of contacting the preconditioned oily substrate with finely divided iron material results in at least a portion of the oily contaminant being desorbed from the preconditioned oily substrate and adsorbed onto the iron material. In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the process of contacting the preconditioned oily substrate with finely divided iron material results in all or substantially all of the preconditioner being adsorbed onto the finely divided iron material. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the

process of contacting the preconditioned oily substrate with the finely divided iron material involves the application of one or more external factors. In the context of the present invention, the term 'adsorbed' is understood to mean accumulation on a surface. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oily contaminant is believed to accumulate on the surface of the iron material. In the context of the present invention, it is understood that certain iron materials are partially or substantially porous in character. The porous character of certain iron materials enables a portion of the oily contaminant to become absorbed into the iron material. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the oily contaminant is adsorbed onto, and a portion of the oily contaminant is absorbed into, the iron material.

4. Removing the iron material and adsorbed contaminant from the substrate magnetically. In the context of the present invention, 'removing' the iron material is understood to mean the displacement of the iron material from one environment to another. In the context of the present invention, the term 'magnetically' is understood to mean operating under the influence of a magnet or magnetic field. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the magnet comprises a permanent magnet and/or electromagnet. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the magnet is a handheld magnet. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the magnet is a rare-earth magnet. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the magnet may be activated and deactivated at the control of the operator, for example an inactivated magnet may be brought into close physical proximity with the iron material contacted to substrate, the magnet may be subsequently activated attracting the iron material to the surface of the magnet, the magnet may then be removed from close physical proximity with the substrate and subsequently deactivated releasing the iron material from its surface. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the application of a magnetic field to a preconditioned oily substrate laden with finely divided iron material results in the iron material being manipulated by the magnetic field facilitating its removal from the substrate.

5. Determining a mass and/or proportion of oily contaminant removed and using said determined mass or proportion as a measure of the efficacy of the preconditioner. In the

context of the present invention, it is understood that the nature of the method of determining the mass and/or proportion of oily contaminant removed will depend on factors, such as the nature of the oily contaminant and the nature of the substrate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mass of the oily contaminant removed from the substrate is determined gravimetrically . In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mass of the oily contaminant removed from the substrate is determined gravimetrically by calculating the difference in mass between the oily substrate of step 1 and the substrate following the removal of oil according to step 4. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mass of the oily contaminant removed is determined by weighing the oily substrate (mass S 1 ) and weighing the substrate following the magnetic removal of the oil-laden iron material (mass S 2 ) and determining the difference between the two masses (S 1 -S 2 ). In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the proportion (Ps) of the oily contaminant removed is determined by additionally determining the mass of the substrate (S 3 ) before the addition of the oily contaminant such that Ps - (S 1 -S 2 )Z(S 1 -S 3 ). In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mass of the oily contaminant removed is determined gravimetrically, by calculating the difference in mass between the amount of oily contaminant added (O 1 ) in step 1 and the amount of oily contaminant removed (O 2 ) according to step 4. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the amount of oily contaminant removed (O 2 ) is calculated by determining the difference between the mass of the oil laden iron material (I 1 ) and the mass of iron material contacted with the preconditioned oily substrate (I 2 ) such that O 2 =(I 1 -I 2 ). In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the proportion (Po) of the oily contaminant removed is determined using

The second aspect of the present invention provides an assay for quantifying the efficacy of one or more preconditioners in the removal of one or more oily contaminants from one or more substrates. In the context of the present invention, the term 'assay' is understood to refer to a quantitative method, for example a collection of experiments run in parallel andZor series. The second aspect of the present invention provides at step 1 a process whereby one or more substrates are contacted separately with oily contaminant to provide one or more oily substrates. In the context of the present invention, step 1 of the second aspect provides a process whereby a set of one or more substrates and a set of one or more

oily contaminants are contacted to provide a set of one or more oily substrates. The set of one or more oily substrates may or may not comprise the totality of permutations possible when combining a set of one or more substances and a set of one of more oily contaminants. The second aspect of the present invention provides at step 2 a process of contacting separately the, or each, oily substrate with preconditioner to provide a plurality of separate preconditioned oily substrates. In the context of the present invention, the term 'plurality' is understood to mean two or more. In the context of the present invention, the term 'separate' is intended to mean of having a spatially disparate relationship. The term 'separate' has no implicit meaning pertaining to the number of physical entities comprising that (eg preconditioned oily) substrate. In the context of the present invention, the term 'separately' is intended to mean one at a time, where 'one' is not intended to be limiting in the number of actual different physical entities being contacted, rather it is intended to refer to a combination of entities which is itself spatially disparate from other combinations of entities. It may be the case that 'oily substrate' is actually a combination of one or more oily contaminants with one or more substrates creating a distinctly identifiable combination referred to as 'oily substrate', for example 'oily substrate' may refer to a combination of a mixture of crude oil and tarry oil contacted with a mixture of shell grit and granite rock.

The third aspect of the present invention provides a method for generating a database of information relating to the efficacy of preconditioners in the removal of oily contaminants from substrates. In the context of the present invention, the term 'database' is understood to mean a collection of information in accessible form. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database is a collection of information in tangible form. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database is a collection of information in tabulated form. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database is a collection of information in the form of a bound book, hi another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database is a collection of information stored electronically. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database is a collection of information stored in the memory device of a computer. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database is a collection of information able to be accessed by computer software. In a further preferred embodiment of the present

invention, the database is a collection of information able to be accessed by computer software through interrogation by an interested party. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database is a collection of information able to be accessed by computer software through interrogation by an interested party by inputting one or more variables pertaining to the information contained in said database, for example the database may comprise a set of indexed variables able to be rapidly cross-referenced to other indexed variables. The third aspect of the present invention provides at step 6 a process for compiling a database. In the context of the present invention, the term 'compiling' is understood to mean the process of combining the information provided by one or more assays to provide a database of information.

The fourth aspect of the present invention provides a method of screening one or more agents intended or suspected to act as preconditioner in the removal of oily contaminants from substrates, hi the context of the present invention, it is understood that many substances will possess one or more properties making said substances suitable for use as preconditioners as hereinbefore described. The fourth aspect of the present invention provides a method of identifying the suitability of one or more of said substances for use as preconditioner.

The third and fourth aspects of the present invention provide a 'plurality of oily substrates, each oily substrate comprising a single substrate in contact with a single contaminant'. In the context of the present invention, the term 'single substrate 1 is understood to mean an entity to be regarded as a single substrate regardless of whether it is composed of two or more otherwise separate substrates. In the context of the present invention, the term 'single contaminant' is understood to mean an entity to be regarded as a single contaminant regardless of whether it is composed of two or more otherwise separate substrates. The third and fourth aspects of the present invention at step 2 provide a 'plurality of preconditioned oily substrates, each preconditioned oily substrate comprising a single oily substrate in contact with a single preconditioner'. In the context of the present invention, 'single preconditioner 1 is understood to include a mixture of preconditioners where the mixture is intended or suspected to act as a preconditioner in its own right, or where the mixture is to be otherwise tested to determine its efficacy as a preconditioner.

Without wishing to be limited by theory, it is believed that preconditioner interacts differentially with components present within oily contaminant. Again without wishing to be limited by theory it is believed that preconditioner interacts with low molecular weight oily contaminant creating a viscous mixture reducing the capacity to remove oily contaminant. It is further theorised that removal of low molecular weight components occurs preferentially in the absence of preconditioner, and that removal of these components prior to the introduction of preconditioner represents the most effective oily contaminant removal protocol. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each aspect of the invention may include additional steps. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oily substrates are contacted with finely divided iron material and subjected to the magnetic removal process one or more, for example two to seven, times prior to contact with the preconditioner. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oily substrates are contacted with finely divided iron material and subjected to the magnetic removal process one or more, for example two to seven, times prior to contact with the preconditioner. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a number of steps may be repeated one or more times. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a number of steps may be repeated one or more times to achieve a desired or predetermined level of removal of oily contaminant. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, steps 3 to 5 of one or more aspects of the present invention may be repeated one or more times, to achieve a desired or predetermined level of removal of oily contaminant. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, steps 3 to 5 of one or more aspects of the present invention may be repeated one or more times, to achieve a level of removal of oily contaminant corresponding to greater than or equal to a predetermined level, such as 90%, 95%, 99%, etc.

It is understood that the present invention is capable of providing a large quantity of information. This information comprises such variables as type of oily contaminant, type of substrate, type of iron material, type of magnet, type of preconditioner, temperature of assay and duration of weathering of substrate. Thus the invention also provides information to an interested party. In other aspects of the invention there are provided

methods for utilising the information gathered according to one or more of the above four aspects of the invention. In a preferred embodiment this database of information is entered into a computer or data processor in such a way that it can be accessed or interrogated, for example through a user interface. The user interface and processor can be part of a single unit, or device, or this may be spatially separated, communicating through a remote connection, for example through telecommunication lines, satellite connection or the internet. According to these aspects the information can be used to:

1. Determine a suitable or optimum preconditioner for use in removing a particular oily contaminant from a particular substrate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, information pertaining to the suitability of a preconditioner for use in removing a particular oily contaminant from a particular substrate is obtained by interrogating the database. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said interrogation comprises the steps of inputting one or more known variables, for example through a user interface, into a system capable of retrieving information from the database and said system outputting one or more related variables from the database. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said interrogation comprises the steps of inputting substrate type and/or oily contaminant type into a system capable of retrieving information from the database and said system outputting suitable or optimum preconditioner type, for example the interested party may wish to determine the most effective preconditioner for use in the removal of bunker oil from duck feathers, the system would be capable of retrieving this information from the database.

2. Determine a suitable or optimum oily contaminant removal protocol for using a particular preconditioner in the removal of a particular oily contaminant from a particular substrate. In the context of the present invention, it is understood that the oily contaminant removal protocol may or may not involve the use of magnetic particles. Said protocol may or may not involve the use of traditional surfactant based oily contaminant removal technology. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, information pertaining to the suitability of an oily contaminant removal protocol using a particular preconditioner for use in removing a particular oily contaminant from a particular substrate is obtained by interrogating the database. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said

interrogation comprises the steps of inputting one or more known variables into a system capable of retrieving information from the database and said system outputting one or more related variables from the database. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said interrogation comprises the steps of inputting preconditioner type and/or oily contaminant type and/or substrate type into a system capable of retrieving information from the database and said system outputting suitable or optimum oily contaminant removal protocol. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said interrogation comprises the steps of inputting preconditioner type and oily contaminant type and substrate type into a system capable of retrieving information from the database and said system outputting one or more suitable or optimum oily contaminant removal protocol variables. Said variables comprising the number of pre-treatment steps (magnetic, surfactant or otherwise) prior to contacting a substrate with preconditioner, the temperature for the process, the number or extent of oily contaminant removal steps (magnetic, surfactant or otherwise) required following the contact with preconditioner.

3. Determine the relative efficacy of one preconditioner to another in the removal of a particular oily contaminant from a particular substrate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, information pertaining to the relative efficacy of one preconditioner to another in the removal of a particular oily contaminant from a particular substrate is obtained by interrogating the database. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said interrogation comprises the steps of inputting one or more known variables into a system capable of retrieving information from the database and said system outputting one or more related variables from the database. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said interrogation comprises the steps of inputting the oily contaminant type, the substrate type and two or more preconditioner types into a system capable of retrieving information from the database and said system outputting the relative efficacy of each preconditioner type, for example the interested party may wish to ascertain whether canola oil is a more effective preconditioner than methyl oleate for the removal of bunker oil from penguin feathers, the system would be capable of providing this information.

4. Determine the efficacy of a preconditioner in a process for removal of an oily contaminant from a substrate relative to a similar process conducted in the absence of a preconditioner. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, information pertaining to the efficacy of a preconditioner in a process for removal of an oily contaminant from a substrate relative to a similar process conducted in the absence of a preconditioner is obtained by interrogating the database. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said interrogation comprises the steps of inputting one or more known variables into a system capable of retrieving information from the database and said system outputting one or more related variables from the database. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said interrogation comprises the steps of inputting preconditioner type and substrate type and oily contaminant type into a system capable of retrieving information from the database and said system outputting efficacy of the preconditioner type relative to the efficacy of oily contaminant removal from the substrate performed in the absence of preconditioner, for example the interested party may wish to ascertain the saving in the number of cleansing cycles afforded through the use of olive oil in the removal of 95% of the tarry oil contacted to duck feathers, the system would be capable of this.

5. Determine the efficacy of a preconditioner in removing a particular oily contaminant from a particular substrate relative to a standard removal protocol or a standard level of efficacy. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, information pertaining to the efficacy of a preconditioner in removing a particular oily contaminant from a particular substrate relative to a standard removal protocol or a standard level of efficacy is obtained by interrogating the database. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said interrogation comprises the steps of inputting one or more known variables into a system capable of retrieving information from the database and said system outputting one or more related variables from the database. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, said interrogation comprises the steps of inputting preconditioner type and substrate type and oily contaminant type into a system capable of retrieving information from the database and said system outputting efficacy of the preconditioner type relative to a standard removal protocol or a standard level of efficacy,

said standard protocol or standard level having been determined prior to the inputting of the variables into the system capable of retrieving information from the database.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said system capable of retrieving information from the database comprises a computer program. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the computer system comprises a portable device capable of displaying the retrieved information. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the computer system comprises a portable device capable of being inputted with said variables, for example the computer system may comprise a database stored electronically and held spatially distant from a user interface capable of having data inputted and outputted with the aid of a touch-sensitive LCD screen. The database and user interface may communicate through the use of wireless technology.

It is understood that aspects of the present invention provide information relevant to the removal of an oily contaminant from an oily substrate by finely divided iron material. It is also to be understood that the present invention provides information relevant to the removal of an oily contaminant from an oily substrate by other oily contaminant removal agents. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said other oily contaminant removal agents include surfactant-based approaches. This extension is supported by a strong correlation between the anecdotal and speculative findings that prevail within the industry and the information provided by the present invention.

It is understood that aspects of the present invention are capable of evaluating a large number of different operating variables. It is understood that, for example, the temperature of substrate, oily contaminant, ambient environment and preconditioner all affect the efficacy of removal of oily contaminant from substrate. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, aspects of the present invention may be performed at an operating temperature of between 10 0 C and 28 0 C. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database provided by the assays and methodologies of the present invention provides information across a range of operating temperatures. In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the database is capable of providing information pertaining to the optimal temperature for removal of a given oily contaminant from a given substrate using a

given preconditioner. In another embodiment of the present invention, the database is capable of providing information pertaining to the optimal preconditioner for use with a given oily contaminant and a given substrate at a given temperature.

The following embodiment of the present invention represents a general method for quantifying the efficacy of a plurality of preconditioners in the removal of a particular oily contaminant from a particular feather substrate. For a given feather type, a number of individual feathers (usually, but not limited to, four or five) are tied together to form a cluster and then weighed, fj. The feather cluster is then completely immersed in the oily contaminant to achieve saturation. The cluster is removed and allowed to drain for 10 min prior to being re-weighed, f 2 , on a tared Petri dish. The cluster is then removed from the dish and the residual quantity of contaminant, r, recorded. Hence the weight of the contaminant-laden feathers, f 3 , for further experimentation is given by: f 3 = f 2 - r

The contaminated feathers are then completely covered with iron powder in order for adsorption of the contaminant to the iron powder to occur. This takes only a few seconds. The contaminant-laden magnetic particles are then removed from the feathers using a magnetic tester. The stripped feather cluster is then weighed, f 4 . The percentage removal of the contaminant, F%, is calculated using the following equation:

F% = [(f 3 -f 4 )/(f 3 -fi)]xl00%

This represents the first treatment, N = I. The feather cluster is again completely covered with iron powder and the magnetic removal procedure is repeated. The stripped feather cluster is weighed and an F% value is calculated for N = 2. This procedure is repeated until a constant (optimal) value of F% is achieved. This is ascertained by plotting F% versus N. Usually 10-12 treatments are required for an optimum removal (plateau) to be achieved. After having characterised the magnetic cleansing for a particular feather type and contaminant (using a standard iron powder), the procedure is repeated for another comparable feather cluster. In this instance, at approximately half way through the

treatment process (usually at N = 5-7), the cluster is completely immersed in a candidate preconditioner and the procedure resumed.

For a given feather type and a given contaminant, the key to quantifying the relative effectiveness of different preconditioners is based on the fact that a given preconditioner is associated with a characteristic "effective number of treatments" required to achieve a defined percentage removal (for example 99%) of contaminant (plus preconditioner). The effective number of treatments (an effectiveness parameter) may be defined as N 99 - although the effectiveness parameter may be defined in other ways, for example N 95 , as appropriate for a given application. Relative values of N 99 , for example, may be visualized in a plot of F% versus N. Interpolation (or, in some circumstances, extrapolation) of acquired data allows for the determination of N 99 .

Other means of representing such data are also possible. For example, a preconditioner effectiveness parameter may be defined as follows:

J^ ■*■ V^ 99 (with preconditioner)' -^ 99 (no preconditioner)/

Examples

The invention will now be described with reference to non-limiting examples:

Example 1

The general method as hereinbefore described for quantifying the efficacy of a plurality of preconditioners in the removal of a particular oily contaminant from a particular feather substrate is applied to the removal of bunker oil from duck feathers. In this instance, where used, preconditioner was added when N=6. In the particular instance when 'Sanccob' preconditioner was used, the following procedure was used:

A cluster of duck feathers was tied together using a minimal amount of thread. The feather cluster was then weighed, giving f \ = 0.0536 g. The feather cluster was then dipped into a vessel containing bunker oil, such that the feathers became laden with bunker oil. After draining, the cluster was placed into a petri dish tared on a balance, giving f 2 = 0.7745 g.

Removal of the oily feather cluster from the petri dish left residual oil in the dish having mass r = 0.0150 g. Calculation of the combined mass of the oil remaining on the feathers plus the mass of the feathers themselves was determined differentially, giving f 3 = (0.7745- 0.0150) g = 0.7595 g. The cluster was covered in iron powder, before the powder was stripped magnetically from the cluster. This stripping procedure was repeated four more times, before the cluster was dipped into a vessel containing 'Sanccob' preconditioner. The magnetic particle stripping procedure was repeated five more times. Following the tenth time (in total) that oil-laden magnetic particles were stripped from the cluster, the cluster was weighed giving f 4 = 0.0554 g. Application of the formula F% = [(f 3 -f 4 )/(f 3 -f 1 )] χ l00% provided, in this instance, F% = 99.75%. Averaging a total of five replicates gave the value F% = 99.8% (3 significant figures) for N=IO as shown in Table 1. The data derived from the application of the general method to other preconditioners in the removal of bunker oil from duck feathers is also shown in Table 1 :

Table 1 - Percentages (by weight) of bunker oil removed from duck feathers as a function of the number of treatments. Note that different preconditioners accelerate the removal of oil (and preconditioner) to differing extents. The shaded boxes represent the integer number of treatments when 99% removal is exceeded.

Interpolation of the data presented in Table 1 provides the data shown in Table 2:

Table 2 - The effective number of treatments required to achieve 99% removal (by weight) of bunker oil from duck feathers for the different preconditioners.

Applying the formula as hereinbefore described to calculate the relative preconditioner effectiveness for the removal of bunker oil from duck feathers provides the data shown in Table 3 :

Table 3 - The relative E values for six different preconditioners tested for the removal of bunker oil from duck feathers.

Example 2

The general assay method as hereinbefore described for quantifying the efficacy of a plurality of preconditioners in the removal of a particular oily contaminant from a particular feather substrate may be applied to the removal of crude oil from duck feathers. The results from such a method are summarised in Table 4:

Table 4 - The effective number of treatments required to achieve 99% removal (by weight) of crude oil from duck feathers for the different preconditioners.

Applying the formula as hereinbefore described to calculate the relative preconditioner effectiveness for the removal of crude oil from duck feathers provides the data shown in Table 5:

Table 5 - The relative E values for six different preconditioners tested for the removal of crude oil from duck feathers.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is know, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived

from it) or know matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word 'comprise', and variations such as 'comprises' and 'comprising', will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.