Non-dispersing Oil Spill Response Technologies

See also our page on In-Situ Burning.

Dispersants, and to a lesser extent in situ burning, are the most emphasized and researched alternatives. However, non-dispersing technologies such as solidifiers, elastomers, and coagulants hold much unrealized potential as alternatives that can be applied to spilled oil to prevent its spread and provide for its recovery and removal. As opposed to dispersants, these products actually allow for the removal the spilled oil from the environment instead of diluting it into the environment. Despite this fact, almost all the research and development, marketing, and scientific studies in the alternative response technology arena have focused on dispersants. This project will help move these alternatives into the general oil spill responders knowledge base as well as the into the regulatory pre-approval process.

The council's first steps include hiring a contractor to carry out a bibliography and synthesis of relevant research in the subject area. Once the bibliography and synthesis of recent knowledge is gathered, it can be used to aid the decision-making process about funding future research.

Return to Alphabetical List of Projects