Water based oil dispersant

Abstract

An effective and non-toxic oil spill dispersant combines a predominately oil-soluble surfactant with a predominately water-soluble surfactant and a co-solvent for coupling a mixture of the predominately oil-soluble surfactant and the oil spill, with the predominately water-soluble surfactant. Water is included in the combination to help advance the interaction between the predominately oil-soluble surfactant and the predominately water-soluble surfactant as well as the co-solvent. The water component also helps reduce the viscosity of the dispersant to allow it to be pumped under pressure.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dispersant for dispersing a petrochemical spill on a body of water, the dispersant comprising: 
 a predominately oil-soluble surfactant of a type and in a quantity to form a mixture with petrochemical from the spill;    a predominately water-soluble surfactant of a type and in a quantity to emulsify the mixture with water from the body of water; and    a non-petroleum co-solvent for coupling the mixture with the predominately water-soluble surfactant to help emulsify the petrochemical into the body of water.    
     
     
         2 . A dispersant according to  claim 1 , including: 
 about 35 to about 85 percent by weight predominately oil-soluble surfactant;    about 8 to about 32 percent by weight predominately water-soluble surfactant;    about 4 to about 16 percent by weight co-solvent; and    about zero to about 50 percent by weight water.    
     
     
         3 . A dispersant according to  claim 2 , including a sufficient amount of water to result in a viscosity for the dispersant in the range of about 75 to about 200 cP.  
     
     
         4 . A dispersant according to  claim 3 , wherein the predominately oil-soluble surfactant is at least one non-ionic surfactant have a hydrophilic and lipophilic balance averaging about 10 to about 18.  
     
     
         5 . A dispersant according to  claim 1 , including a sufficient amount of water to result in a viscosity for the dispersant in the range of about 75 to about 200 cP.  
     
     
         6 . A dispersant according to  claim 1 , wherein the predominately oil-soluble surfactant is at least one non-ionic surfactant have a hydrophilic and lipophilic balance averaging about 10 to about 18.  
     
     
         7 . A dispersant according to  claim 6 , wherein the predominately water-soluble surfactant is anionic.  
     
     
         8 . A dispersant according to  claim 1 , wherein the co-solvent is soluble in the petrochemical, in water and in the surfactants of the dispersant.  
     
     
         9 . A method for dispersing a petrochemical spill on a body of water, comprising: 
 providing a dispersant which contains a predominately oil-soluble surfactant of a type and in a quantity to form a mixture with petrochemical for the spill, a predominately water-soluble surfactant of a type and in a quantity to emulsify the mixture with water from the body of water and a co-solvent for coupling the mixture with the predominately water-soluble surfactant to help emulsify the petrochemical into the body of water; and    supplying an effective amount of the dispersant onto the body of water at the spill, for dispersing the spill by emulsifying at least some of the petrochemical into the body of water.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , including supplying the dispersant to the petrochemical spill in an amount of about one part dispersant to about 5 to 100 parts petrochemical.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the dispersant includes: 
 about 35 to about 85 percent by weight predominately oil-soluble surfactant;    about 8 to about 32 percent by weight predominately water-soluble surfactant;    about 4 to about 16 percent by weight co-solvent; and    about zero to about 50 percent by weight water.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the dispersant includes a sufficient amount of water to result in a viscosity for the dispersant in the range of about 75 to about 200 cP.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the predominately oil-soluble surfactant is at least one non-ionic surfactant have a hydrophilic and lipophilic balance averaging about 10 to about 18.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 9 , including a sufficient amount of water in the dispersant to result in a viscosity for the dispersant in the range of about 75 to about 200 cP.  
     
     
         15 . A dispersant according to  claim 9 , wherein the predominately oil-soluble surfactant is at least one non-ionic surfactant have a hydrophilic and lipophilic balance averaging about 10 to about 18.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the predominately water-soluble surfactant is anionic.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the co-solvent is soluble in the petrochemical, in water and in the surfactants of the dispersant.