EVALUATION OF THREE OIL SPILL LABORATORY DISPERSANT EFFECTIVENESS TESTS

• Main Authors: D. Sullivan, J. Farlow, K. Sahatjian
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: Canada; Prudhoe Bay
• Online Access: http://oaspub.epa.gov/eims/eimsapi.dispdetail?deid=46403

EPA evaluated three laboratory Methods: the Revised Standard Dispersant Effectiveness Test currently used (and currently required by regulation) in the United States, the Swirling Flask Test (developed by Environment Canada), and the IFP-Dilution Test (used in France and other European countries). ix test oils and three dispersants were evaluated; dispersants were applied to the oil at an average 1:10 ratio (dispersant to oil) for each of the three laboratory methods. creening efforts were used to focus on the most appropriate oil/dispersant combination for detailed study. creening criterion was established that required a combination that gave at least 20 percent effectiveness results. he selected combination turned out to be Prudhoe Bay crude oil (an EPA-American Petroleum Institute Standard Reference Oil) and the dispersant Corexit 9527. his combination was also most likely to be encountered in United States coastal waters. PA's evaluation concluded that the three tests give similar precision results, but that the Swirling Flask Test was fastest, cheapest, simplest, and required least operator skill.