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TAP-160-Study of Oil Spill Chemical Treating Agents

Office/Division Program
TAP
Project Number
160
Research Initiation Date (Award Date)
Research Performing Activity
Emergencies Science Division, Environment Canada
Research Principal Investigator
Dr. Merv F. Fingas
Research Contracting Agency
Description

This is a Joint Industry Project (JIP) between MMS and Environment Canada to: (1) develop tests for oil spill chemical treating agents and apply these lessons to develop more effective and improved products; (2) to test commercial products for efficacy and toxicity; (3) to test oil spill dispersants to understand effectiveness and how they might be improved; and (4) to test new product ideas.

Dispersants:
- The dispersibility of Deep Water Gulf of Mexico oils was measured.
- The dispersant method developed has being written and submitted as an ASTM standard.
- Four new products were tested, Super dispersant, Disperant Sc-100, Vytac and a new (unnamed) Canadian dispersant.
- Testing dispersant effectiveness with catalog oil continues. Gulf of Mexico deepwater oils were completed and entered into the catalog.

Emulsion Breakers:
- Extensive work on emulsion formation was completed

Biodegradation Agents
- One new agent was tested
- The methodology has been finalized and three products moved forward towards acceptability
- Work has started on a soil methodology
- A series of papers were published on the consortium of bacteria used to standardize the methods

Solidifiers
- No work has been performed in this area, It has not been an active interest-wise area.

Latest progress update

Work has focused on filling gaps in dispersibility in the oil properties catalog. More than 400 new entries were added.