Dispersit

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

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

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. US patent 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. "National Contingency Plan Product Schedule Toxicity and Effectiveness Summaries". Environmental Protection Agency. 2010-05-13. 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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