Dispersit

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Dispersit SPC 1000 or Dispersit is a dispersant used for oil spills, produced by U.S. Polychemical Corporation. [1]

Contents

Composition

It combines a predominantly oil-soluble surfactant (such as polyethylene glycol mono-oleate) with a predominantly water-soluble surfactant (such as cocoamide) and a co-solvent for coupling a mixture of the predominantly oil-soluble surfactant and the oil. [2]

Schematic illustration of an oil droplet being emulsified by Dispersit Dispersit US patent illustration.jpg
Schematic illustration of an oil droplet being emulsified by Dispersit

Alternatives

Alternative dispersants which are approved by the EPA are listed on the National Contingency Plan Product Schedule [3] and rated for their toxicity and effectiveness. [4]

Deployments

2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill

Dispersit is unique among U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-rated dispersants in being the only one rated as 100% effective against South Louisiana crude oil, and it is among the least toxic, according to EPA tests. [4] By comparison, Corexit, the oil dispersant used in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, is rated at 54.7% effective against South Louisiana crude oil and three times as lethal to silverfish and more than twice as lethal to shrimp. [5]

On May 20, US Polychemical Corporation was reported to have received an order from BP for Dispersit SPC 1000. [6] US Polychemical reportedly stated it was able to produce 20,000 US gallons (76,000 L) a day in the first few days and increasing up to 60,000 US gallons (230,000 L) a day thereafter. [7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Polychem Dispersit". U.S. Polychemical Corporation. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  2. ↑ USpatent 6261463,Savarimuthu M. Jacob and Robert E. Bergman&Robert E. Bergman,"Water based oil dispersant",published 2002-01-17,issued 2001-07-17, assigned to U.S. Polychemical Marine Corporation
  3. ↑ "National Contingency Plan Product Schedule". Environmental Protection Agency. 2010-05-13. Archived from the original on 2010-05-21. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  4. 1 2 "National Contingency Plan Product Schedule Toxicity and Effectiveness Summaries". Environmental Protection Agency. 2010-05-13. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  5. ↑ Brandon Keim (2010-05-05). "Toxic Oil Dispersant Used in Gulf Despite Better Alternative". Wired. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  6. ↑ "National Contingency Plan Product Schedule, Technical Product Bulletin #D-5: DISPERSIT SPC 1000". Environmental Protection Agency. 1999-04-22. Archived from the original on 2010-05-22. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  7. ↑ Campbell Robertson and Elisabeth Rosenthal (2010-05-20). "Agency Orders Use of a Less Toxic Chemical in Gulf". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
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