Selective and Non-Selective Oil Skimmers
Elastec drum and disc skimmers are made with an oleophilic (oil-attracting) material and are selective. This means oil adheres to the drum or disc and is separated from the water’s surface. Selective oil skimmers recover a higher concentration of oil and very little water. They are the most efficient floating oil skimmers to clean up a spill incident.
Non-selective skimmers do not discriminate between oil and water. Weirs (gravity oil skimmers) and suction skimmers collect oil, water and anything else on the surface.
Oil Skimmer Testing at Ohmsett
Elastec oil skimmer testing is performed at Ohmsett, one of the largest oil spill testing facilities in the world. It is located at the Naval Weapons Station Earle Waterfront in the United States. Ohmsett follows the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard F-2709-08 Standard Test Method for Determining Nameplate Recovery Rate of Stationary Oil Skimmer Systems.
Elastec grooved drum skimmers were used in a test at Ohmsett to determine if oil skimming operations are possible for fresh and weathered Bakken oil.