Dispersit
Encyclopedia
Dispersit SPC 1000 or Dispersit is a dispersant
used for oil spill
s, produced by U.S. Polychemical Corporation.
mono-oleate) with a predominately water-soluble surfactant
(such as cocoamide) and a co-solvent for coupling a mixture of the predominately oil-soluble surfactant and the oil.
, 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.
On May 20, US Polychemical Corporation was reported to have received an order from BP
for Dispersit SPC 1000. US Polychemical reportedly stated it was able to produce 20000 gallons (75,708.2 l) a day in the first few days and increasing up to 60000 gallons (227,124.7 l) a day thereafter.
Dispersant
A dispersant or a dispersing agent or a plasticizer or a superplasticizer is either a non-surface active polymer or a surface-active substance added to a suspension, usually a colloid, to improve the separation of particles and to prevent settling or clumping...
used for oil spill
Oil spill
An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially marine areas, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. The term is mostly used to describe marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters...
s, produced by U.S. Polychemical Corporation.
Composition
It combines a predominately oil-soluble surfactant (such as polyethylene glycolPolyethylene glycol
Polyethylene glycol is a polyether compound with many applications from industrial manufacturing to medicine. It has also been known as polyethylene oxide or polyoxyethylene , depending on its molecular weight, and under the tradename Carbowax.-Available forms:PEG, PEO, or POE refers to an...
mono-oleate) with a predominately water-soluble surfactant
Surfactant
Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, the interfacial tension between two liquids, or that between a liquid and a solid...
(such as cocoamide) and a co-solvent for coupling a mixture of the predominately oil-soluble surfactant and the oil.
Alternatives
Alternative dispersants which are approved by the EPA are listed on the National Contingency Plan Product Schedule and rated for their toxicity and effectiveness.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. By comparison, CorexitCorexit
Corexit is a product line of solvents primarily used as a dispersant for breaking up oil slicks. It is produced by Nalco Holding Company which is associated with BP and Exxon. Corexit was the most-used dispersant in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, with COREXIT 9527 having...
, the oil dispersant used in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which flowed unabated for three months in 2010, and continues to leak fresh oil. It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry...
, 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.
On May 20, US Polychemical Corporation was reported to have received an order from BP
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
for Dispersit SPC 1000. US Polychemical reportedly stated it was able to produce 20000 gallons (75,708.2 l) a day in the first few days and increasing up to 60000 gallons (227,124.7 l) a day thereafter.