NOVELTY - Cleaning-up oil spills on water surface with carbon particles (P1) involves forming (P1) by passing electrical current through i) catalytic material comprising carbon black or ii) iron and aluminum oxide (Fe-alumina), heating at 850-1200 degrees C, and passing stream of hydrocarbon fuel to produce hydrogen-rich gas and (P1) with filamentary surface deposited on surface of catalytic material; recovering carbon particles and filaments; scattering (P1) on water surface having oil layer; breaking oil layer into oil and carbon isles; and removing oil and carbon isles from water surface.    USE - For cleaning oil spills (claimed) on the surface of water.    ADVANTAGE - The method provides the combination of two features characteristic of the carbon-product i.e. distinct hydrophobic nature of the carbon surface, and the presence of carbon fibers which act as a hydrophobic sponge and readily adsorb the oil. Scattering of carbon-product particles over the surface of oil spill results in breaking of the oil pellicle and formation of oil/carbon isles separated from each other. These isles can be conveniently removed from water surface by brushing with net. The captured oil can be easily retrieved from the oil/carbon slurry using conventional techniques (e.g. press separator). Alternatively, if heavy carbon/support particles (e.g. carbon deposited on Fe-based catalyst) are used for oil spill clean-up, the isles will slowly sink and remain under the water until oil is microbiologically consumed.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Cleaning-up oil spills on a water surface with carbon particles (P1) involves forming (P1) by passing electrical current through either i) catalytic material that consists solely of carbon black or ii) iron and aluminum oxide (Fe-alumina), heating at 850-1200 degrees C, and passing a stream of hydrocarbon fuel through the catalytic material to produce hydrogen-rich gas and several (P1) with a filamentary surface deposited on the surface of the catalytic material and recovering (P1) having a structure of loose curved elongated worm shaped filaments, with a hollow portion, where each of the filaments having a tubular, longitudinal uniformity, of graphitic structure and each of filaments is approximately one micron in mean diameter; scattering the (P1) on a water surface having an oil layer; breaking the oil layer into oil and carbon isles; and removing oil and carbon isles from the water surface. The method also involves allowing the oil and carbon isles to sink and remain under water until oil are consumed microbiologically, when (Fe-alumina) is used.