Oil spill microemulsion dispersants

摘要

A method for dispersing an oil spill on sea water, which method comprises applying to the oil spill surface an effective amount of: (i) a blend of one or more hydrophilic and one or more lipophilic surfactants so balanced that they will form microemulsions with the sea water and the oil to be dispersed; (ii) a solvent which is miscible with the oil to be dispersed and in which the blend of surfactants is substantially soluble; and (iii) from 0 to about 10 weight percent water, wherein the blend of surfactants is such that it lowers the interfacial tension between the oil to be dispersed and the sea water to less than about 250 mdynes/cm when the blend is used at a treat rate of less than about 1 to 100 by weight, based on the oil to be dispersed, wherein the solvent is a hydrocarbon solvent selected from the group consisting of No. 2 diesel fuel oil, kerosene and white oil.