Diesel in water

[tugboat]

I've only just read this thread and hesitate to dip my toe into such turbulent waters but,
if you have an inspection hatch on the top of the contaminated tank, have you considered putting in one of those bilge cleaning sausage thingies which are supposed to absorb oil/diesel but not water? It could remove the main volume of the diesel and be a starting point for your cleanup.

 

[Guest]

Re: Diesel in water - oil absorbant ...

Wasn't that also one of my gems ???? Glad someone else agrees that it MIGHT help !! I may not be quite so alone in this world !

Woof Woof !!

 

[Nick_H]

Re: Diesel in water - oil absorbant ...

Well I can speak from experience having put diesel in the water tank and then cured the problem. The answer is indeed to overfill the tank (a litre or two of diesel will soon disperse with a bit of detergent, it is organic after all). Then put a bottle or two of bilge cleaner in the tank and fill with fresh water to about 3/4 full, to allow plenty of sploshing around space, then go out in some rough weather.

Drain completely whilst still out at sea cos there is lots of foam, then rinse fresh water through the tank a couple of times. Next buy bulk quantities of white vinegar and fill the tank with a mix of approx 20% vinegar 80% water and leave at least overnight, drain tank, rinse thoroughly again, and the problem will be solved, though there may be a faint vinegary smell for the first few fills.

 

[Ships_Cat]

Re: Diesel in water - oil absorbant ...

I agree with you - mostly because you have done it (I think you may have posted about it at the time - if I have the right case) and partly because my curiosity was aroused enuff by the shenanigans above that I have just had a play around with some diesel while on the boat over the last 2 days.

Firstly, despite the claim of another I easily evaporated diesel film off the surface of water even though cold, it just takes a little time - water temp averaged around 8C (range was 6C to 12C) and air temp varied between around 5C (night) and 14C (is end of winter here). I had a film very much thicker than a monolayer, but was only able to leave it for 24 hours - at the end of that time, the first clear patches of water were starting to show (I used a white container so that the clear diesel film could be seen by the shadows it cast on the bottom of the container using incident light due to its different refractive index to water).

Secondly, I found that it is not straightforward to soak up the last of the diesel floating on water as its much higher surface tension causes the water to soak up in preference to the diesel. One is best to use adsorption instead (ie a non absorbing material dunked in that the diesel sticks to (not soaked up) but the water does not. This makes it hard for ordinary folk.

Once the diesel was off the water the residual film on the sides of the container was very easy to get rid of using ordinary detergent with no smell remaining at all. I would have happily have drunk water out of it at that stage.

Vinegar, as you recommend, is commonly recommended for detainting tanks after painting, etc.

So, wrapping all that up I agree that your procedure is probably the best available. Given the large quantities of vinegar that might be needed if the tank is large, and if my mini test with detergent expands to tank size ok, I think I would try a plain neutral dishwashing detergent in water sloshed around after the bilge cleaner episode and then resort to the vinegar if necessary.

(I have the feeling that the wrath of another is about to descend upon me now /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif)

John

 

[AlJones]

Try A 'Biosok'.

It will 'eat' the derv and turn it into co2.

It may get rid of the taste, as I know it gets rid of the smell. Which we all know is the main bit of the problem.

PM me for more info.

Regards

Al Jones /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[tugboat]

Re: Diesel in water - oil absorbant ...

Ooops! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif You're right, I missed that. Seems my speed reading skills aren't quite as good as I thought they were! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Guest]

Why wrath .... lost interest long ago ...

Can't be bothered with it now .... the guy has enough info from others to likely solve his problem ....

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif