1. Dispersant Recovery

2. Dispersants to clean oil
The use of dispersants in the recovery
The effect of the dispersants on the recovery
The recovery from the dispersants

3. Dispersant
The main dispersant used in Gulf was Corexit 9500 and Corexit 9527, produced by Nalco
Nalco portrays itself as a company striving for sustainable solutions to industrial problems.
The dispersants work by both being attracted to the water and oil to lower the surface tension of the oil slick to allow for the oil to dissolve.
dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate is the component that has taken the longest to break down in the gulf water.

4. Use Dispersants were originally sanctioned by the EPA
Lisa Jackson, EPA administrator, acknowledges that, "So far the data show we haven't done any damage and actually we've helped with dispersion and used a lot less of the chemical in the process” (nola.com)
Used then under the surface, never done before.
Lisa Jackson "none of the testing that was done prior to this incident was what I'd call extensive and geared toward the long-term effects or effects in the sub-sea.“ (nola.com)
The idea was to break up the oil before it reached the surface.

5. Effects Broke up the oil on the surface.
Intended to let oil settle to the bottom
Created large dead zones
2 inches of oil on the sea floor.
Discovered by Samantha Joye of the university of Georgia
This is killing many of the filter feeders living on the bottom of the sea.
Samantha Joye, “only about 10% of the oil was consumed by microbes”
gulfblog.uga.edu

6. Nalco Nalco Material Safety Data Sheet. Do not take internally
Handle with protective clothing and gloves
Use respirator or half face mask when concentrations exceed given limits
5-10 Mg/m^3
States that none of the component are listed as know carcinogens
It does have the tendency to bio accumulate
All this information is for short term spills, not months of exposure
The report states that human risk is low

7. Affects Not being broken down Human illness
The reduction to concentration is due to the dilution over the vast area of the Gulf.
Human illness
Exposure comes from inhalation, ingestion, and skin or eye contact
Nalco Material Data Safety Sheet
“BIOACCUMULATION POTENTIAL: Component substances have a potential to bio concentrate”

8. Lessons BP took control of the cleanup
Need an organization with broader concerns
BP stock prices (msnbc.com)

9. Alternatives No Dispersants Environmentally friendly dispersant
Dispersit, made by PolyChem
Water based
100% effective on Louisiana crude by EPA
Corexit is 54%
BP tested small amounts but never ordered a significant supply.

10. Closing Dispersant used Problems Recovery from dispersant
Lessons/ alternatives

11. Questions

12. Reference Collage Articles
across-tampa-florida
Articles