Oil Spill Dispersants: Mechanisms of Action and Laboratory Tests

Oil Spill Dispersants provides a comprehensive summary of current information regarding the general formulation of commercial dispersants and their function to lower oil-water interfacial tension. The book considers how chemical dispersants work for oil spills, the properties and chemistry of oils, the variables that effect dispersant performance, and the relationships between laboratory methods and field situations. The book also considers the strengths and limitations of specific laboratory tests, including brief discussions of the applicability of results for estimating dispersant performance in field trials or conditions encountered during real spill events. Laboratory tests are separated into four groups: tank tests, shake/flask tests, interfacial surface tension tests and flume tests. Rapid-screen field tests are considered as a separate group. Recommendations for improvements in future laboratory testing are offered as well.