New Patent Filed - Process for cleaning up oil spills - The present invention relates to a system for controlling oil spills floating on open bodies of water. The process involves dispersing a hydrocarbon base ferrofluid containing an oil soluble water insoluble surfactant and a stable colloid of magnetic solids e.g. magnetite into the oil slick, then using a magnetic field to attract and pick up the oil spill, which is now magnetically responsive. Patent US 3635819 A
Not sure if this video below showing how a magnetic wand cleans an oil spill has any relation but I find this interesting.