BOX 1.1Dispersant Components

Modern dispersants consist of a mixture of surface active agents (surfactants) dissolved in a solvent or mixture of solvents. In standardized tests, eight dispersants listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Contingency Plan Product Schedule were generally classified as slightly toxic to practically nontoxic based on acute toxicity to two species, Menida beryllina and Mysidopsis bahia (Hemmer et al., 2011). Dispersants can be applied through various methods depending on the type of delivery platforms available. (See NRC [2005] for a more complete discussion.) Ingredients often include:

  • Non-ionic surfactant—typically sorbitan oleate and polyethoxylated derivatives
  • Anionic surfactant—primarily dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate
  • Hydrocarbon solvents—typically hydrotreated light distillates
  • Other solvent—typically a glycol ether derivative

NOTE: Nonylphenol ethoxylates are present in some commercial formulations, but these are generally less acceptable to regulatory authorities because of the concern that they may break down to a nonylphenol, which may pose reproductive health and chronic aquatic toxicity concerns.

From: CHAPTER 1, INTRODUCTION

Cover of The Use of Dispersants in Marine Oil Spill Response
The Use of Dispersants in Marine Oil Spill Response.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Division on Earth and Life Studies; Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology; Ocean Studies Board; Committee on the Evaluation of the Use of Chemical Dispersants in Oil Spill Response.
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2019 Apr 5.
Copyright 2019 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

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