Photochemical Oxidation of Oil Reduced the Effectiveness of Aerial Dispersants Applied in Response to the Deepwater Horizon Spill

• Published in: Environmental science & technology letters Vol. 5; no. 5; pp. 226 - 231
• Main Authors: Ward, Collin P, Armstrong, Cassia J, Conmy, Robyn N, French-McCay, Deborah P, Reddy, Christopher M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 08.05.2018
• Subjects: case studies; dispersants; droplets; emulsifying; environmental impact; evaporation; oil spills; oils; oxidation; petroleum; photochemistry; solubility; solvents; weathering

Chemical dispersants are one of many tools used to mitigate the overall environmental impact of oil spills. In principle, dispersants break up floating oil into small droplets that disperse into the water column where they are subject to multiple fate and transport processes. The effectiveness of di...