CHEMICAL TREATING AGENTS: RESPONSE NICHES AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Chemical oil spill treating agents—here meant to exclude chemical oil spill dispersants, burning agents, and bioremediation agents—are one type of countermeasure used to control the release and/or spread of spilled oil. They are infrequently used in the United States, in part because they have been inadequately tested and demonstrated for efficacy and environmental effects. A study planned and sponsored by the Marine Spill Response Corporation examined the potential utility of chemical treating agents during marine oil spills. Through an extensive literature search and market survey process, this study defined specific product classes and evaluated these classes in terms of operational use, efficacy, and environmental fate and effects. Individual products within each class were also evaluated in terms of these study parameters, and a resultant compendium of available products worldwide was produced. Based on the evaluation, as well as results from a workshop held in conjunction with this project, specific response niches (for example, the application for which the countermeasure is best suited) for chemical treating agent classes were proposed. The niches were determined partially by evaluating the classes’ relative effectiveness according to oil type and degree of weathering. The study also recommended research and development needs.