Abstrict A method of using a desiccant for the absorption of moisture from
a spill location. The method of using a desiccant for the absorption
of moisture from a spill location comprises the steps of: identifying
a spill perimeter of a liquid spill, removing standing liquid from
within the spill perimeter, dispersing a layer of desiccant within
the spill perimeter substantially covering the liquid spill, waiting
a period of time until the desiccant is substantially saturated
with moisture from the liquid spill, removing the moisture saturated
desiccant, evaluating if moisture is still present at the spill
location, and if moisture is still present, dispersing another layer
of the desiccant within the spill perimeter substantially covering
the liquid spill, waiting another period of time until the desiccant
is substantially saturated with moisture from the liquid spill,
removing the moisture saturated desiccant and repeating as necessary.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A method of using a desiccant for the absorption of moisture
from a spill location comprising the steps of: identifying a spill
perimeter of a liquid spill; removing standing liquid from within
said spill perimeter; dispersing a desiccant layer of silica gel
within said spill perimeter substantially covering said liquid spill;
waiting a period of time until said desiccant is substantially saturated
with moisture from said liquid spill; removing said moisture saturated
desiccant; evaluating if moisture is still present at said spill
location, and if moisture is still present, dispensing another layer
of said desiccant within said spill perimeter substanitally covering
said liquid spill; waiting a period of time until said another layer
of said desiccant is substantially saturated with moisture from
said liquid spill if said another layer of said desiccant is require;
removing said another layer of said desiccant after said another
layer of said desiccant is saturated with said liquid spill if said
another layer of said desiccant is require; evaluating if moisture
is still present at said spill location, and if moisture is still
present, dispensing a third layer of said desiccant within said
spill perimeter substanitally covering said liquid spill; waiting
a period of time until said third layer of said desiccant is substantially
saturated with moisture from said liquid spill if said third layer
of said desiccant is require; removing said third layer of said
desiccant after said third layer of said desiccant is saturated
with said liquid spill if said third layer of said desiccant is
require; and repeating the steps of evaluating if moisture is still
present at said spill location, waiting a period of time until said
another layer of said desiccant is substantially saturated, and
removing said another layer of said desiccant until moisture from
said liquid spill is no longer present; wherein said steps of removing
said layers of said desiccant which are saturated comprises the
step of using a vacuum to remove said layers of said moisture saturated
desiccant.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of removing said moisture
saturated desiccant comprises the step of sweeping to remove said
moisture saturated desiccant.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of removing said moisture
saturated desiccant comprises the step of using a vacuum to remove
said moisture saturated desiccant.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of removing said moisture
saturated desiccant comprises the step of sweeping to remove said
moisture saturated desiccant.
5. A method of using a desiccant for the absorption of moisture
from a spill location comprising the steps of: identifying a spill
perimeter of a liquid spill; removing standing liquid from within
said spill perimeter; dispersing a desiccant layer of silica gel
within said spill perimeter substantially covering said liquid spill;
waiting a period of time until said desiccant is substantially saturated
with moisture from said liquid spill; removing said moisture saturated
desiccant; evaluating if moisture is still present at said spill
location, and if moisture is still present, dispersing another layer
of said desiccant within said spill perimeter substantially covering
said liquid spill; waiting a period of time until said desiccant
is substantially saturated with moisture from said liquid spill;
and removing said moisture saturated desiccant; repeating the following
steps until moisture is no longer present as indicated by said desiccant
remaining substantially dry following dispersing within said spill
perimeter: dispersing a layer of desiccant within said spill perimeter
substantially covering said liquid spill; waiting a period of time
until said desiccant is substantially saturated with moisture from
said liquid spill; and removing said moisture saturated desiccant;
wherein the steps of removing said moisture saturated desiccant
comprises the step of using a vacuum to remove said moisture saturated
desiccant.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of repeating
the following steps until moisture is no longer present as indicated
by said desiccant remaining substantially dry following dispersing
within said spill perimeter: dispersing a layer of desiccant within
said spill perimeter substantially covering said liquid spill; waiting
a period of time until said desiccant is substantially saturated
with moisture from said liquid spill; and removing said moisture
saturated desiccant.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of removing said moisture
saturated desiccant comprises the step of using a vacuum to remove
said moisture saturated desiccant.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the cleanup of spills, and more specifically,
to a method of using a desiccant for the substantially complete
absorption of moisture from a spill location.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fluid spills are an everyday occurrence throughout the home and
work-place. Fluid spills may comprise water, paints, inks, lubricants,
fuels, and other substances. Generally, the cleanup of fluid spills
has involved the use of a mop and pail, a sponge, paper towels,
a wet-dry vacuum, etc. to lift the fluid from the spill location.
However, regardless of which of these means is used to attempt to
remove all of the fluid, the spill location generally contains some
moisture residue of the fluid. The moisture residue remains for
a variety of reasons including: an inability to get the sponge or
other cleanup means in contact with the moisture, or because the
nature of the surface upon which the spill has occurred has a surface
texture or construction that hinders the release of, or absorption
by, the moisture to the cleanup means. Therefore, a need existed
for a method of absorbing moisture from a spill location that would
not be inhibited by surface texture or construction. An additional
need existed for a method of absorbing moisture from a spill location
that would leave the spill location substantially dry and free of
moisture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of
absorbing moisture from a spill location that is not inhibited by
surface texture or construction.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method
of absorbing moisture from a spill location that leaves the spill
location substantially dry and free of moisture.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the following, more particular,
description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
According to one aspect of the invention, a method of using a desiccant
for the absorption of moisture from a spill location is disclosed.
The method of using a desiccant for the absorption of moisture from
a spill location comprises the steps of: identifying a spill perimeter
of a liquid spill, removing standing liquid from within the spill
perimeter, dispersing a layer of desiccant within the spill perimeter
substantially covering the liquid spill, waiting a period of time
until the desiccant is substantially saturated with moisture from
the liquid spill, and removing the moisture saturated desiccant.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of using
a desiccant for the absorption of moisture from a spill location
is disclosed. The method of using a desiccant for the absorption
of moisture from a spill location comprises the steps of: identifying
a spill perimeter of a liquid spill, removing standing liquid from
within the spill perimeter, dispersing a layer of desiccant within
the spill perimeter substantially covering the liquid spill, waiting
a period of time until the desiccant is substantially saturated
with moisture from the liquid spill, removing the moisture saturated
desiccant, evaluating if moisture is still present at the spill
location, and if moisture is still present, dispersing another layer
of the desiccant within the spill perimeter substantially covering
the liquid spill, waiting a period of time until the desiccant is
substantially saturated with moisture from the liquid spill, and
removing the moisture saturated desiccant.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a method of using
a desiccant for the absorption of moisture from a spill location
is disclosed: The method of using a desiccant for the absorption
of moisture from a spill location comprises the steps of: identifying
a spill perimeter of a liquid spill; removing standing liquid from
within the spill perimeter; dispersing a layer of desiccant within
the spill perimeter substantially covering the liquid spill; waiting
a period of time until the desiccant is substantially saturated
with moisture from the liquid spill; removing the moisture saturated
desiccant; evaluating if moisture is still present at the spill
location, and if moisture is still present, dispersing another layer
of the desiccant within the spill perimeter substantially covering
the liquid spill; waiting a period of time until the desiccant is
substantially saturated with moisture from the liquid spill; removing
the moisture saturated desiccant; and repeating the following steps
until moisture is no longer present as indicated by the desiccant
remaining substantially dry following dispersal within the spill
perimeter: dispersing a layer of desiccant within the spill perimeter
substantially covering the liquid spill, waiting a period of time
until the desiccant is substantially saturated with moisture from
the liquid spill, and removing the moisture saturated desiccant.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the steps of the present invention,
a method of using a desiccant for the substantially complete absorption
of moisture from a spill location.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1 a flowchart shows the steps of the method
of using a desiccant for the substantially complete absorption of
moisture from a spill location (the "method 10" hereinafter).
The method 10 is useful for the substantially complete absorption
of moisture from a spill location, particularly when the location
or the location construction inhibits the removal of moisture. The
present invention uses a desiccant, which is generally comprised
of silica gel in a powder, or sand-like form. One source for silica
gel is the Eagle Chemical Company of Mobil Ala., although other
sources of silica gel and equivalent substances are readily located
by those skilled in the art. When attending to a spill of fluids,
in which an object is to quickly effect the drying of the spill
location, a desiccant will result in the substantially complete
removal of all moisture in a short period of time. This substantially
complete removal of moisture occurs because the desiccant's affinity
for moisture causes the transference of the moisture from the surface
of, or in, the spill location into the desiccant substance thus
leaving a dry location behind. In contrast, other methods of cleaning
up a spill location use towels, mops, etc. all of which leave a
large amount of moisture, and even standing liquids remaining. Some
situations for which the method 10 of the present invention are
well suited comprise: liquid spills on floors and carpets, wet clothing
such as gloves, shoes, boots, snow gear, camping gear, etc. Additional
applications comprise spills of liquids on sensitive equipment such
as keyboards, spills on delicate surfaces that must be quickly returned
to a dry state such as paintings, pool table felt, etc.
A preferred embodiment of the method 10 comprises the following
steps: Identifying a spill location and spill perimeter 14. This
step ensures that substantially all moisture containing areas will
in fact be located and thus the moisture present will be absorbed
by the desiccant. The next step is to remove standing liquids from
within the spill perimeter 16. The removal of standing liquids is
an issue of efficiency as it allows the more efficient use of the
absorbent desiccant on hand. However, it is possible to bypass this
step and proceed directly to the next step although larger quantities
of absorbent desiccant will be required. The next step comprises
the dispersal of the absorbent desiccant within the spill perimeter
18. The absorbent desiccant must be dispersed to substantially cover
all moisture locations within the spill perimeter. The next step
is to wait a period of time until the absorbent desiccant is substantially
saturated with moisture from the liquid spill and the moisture absorption
terminates 20. This termination of moisture absorption by the absorbent
desiccant may be determined by visual observation of the surface
of the absorbent desiccant. When moisture absorption is substantially
complete, either due to the substantially complete absorption of
moisture, or the saturation of the absorbent desiccant, the appearance
of the surface of the layer of absorbent desiccant will cease changing.
The next step is the removal of the absorbent desiccant from within
the spill perimeter 22. The removal of the absorbent desiccant may
be accomplished by a variety of means including sweeping 26 or
more efficiently, by vacuuming 24.
The next step comprises evaluating if moisture is still present
at the spill location 28. If moisture is still present, the method
10 is repeated starting with the step of dispersing another layer
of the absorbent desiccant within the spill perimeter substantially
covering the liquid spill 18. This repeated step of the dispersal
of absorbent desiccant is followed by the further steps of: waiting
a period of time until the absorbent desiccant is substantially
saturated with moisture from the liquid spill 20; removing the moisture
saturated absorbent desiccant 22; and again evaluating if moisture
is still present at the spill location 28. These steps of the method
10 are repeated until moisture is no longer present within the spill
perimeter 28.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes
in form, and details may be made therein without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention.
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