SURFACE WASHING AGENTS:PRODUCT EVALUATIONS, CASE

HISTORIES, AND GUIDELINES MARINE AND FRESHWATER HABITATS

Jacqueline MichelResearch Planning, Inc.

To assist in determining when and how to use SWAs:

• mechanism of action• when to use• authority required for use• general application requirements• health and safety issues• limiting factors• environmental concerns

To select the most appropriate products:To select the most appropriate products:• comparisons of key characteristics of each

listed product

To learn from the experiences of others:To learn from the experiences of others:• case histories of use

So others may learn:So others may learn:• suggested monitoring plans and strategies

for operational use of SWAs

WHAT ARESURFACE WASHING AGENTS?

• Oil spill treating agents designed to enhance oil removal from substrates

HOW DO THEY WORK?• They contain surfactants, solvents, and/or other

additives that soften and lift oil off the surface

THERE ARE TWO BASIC TYPES

1.1. Lift and DisperseLift and Disperse

• Industrial cleaners that emulsify the oil (like dishwashing soaps)

• Key descriptors: oil is dispersed, emulsified, or encapsulated

• The oil is not recoverable, so effluent must be contained, recovered, and properly treated

TWO BASIC TYPES, cont.

2.2. Lift and FloatLift and Float

• Specially formulated cleaners that dissolve or lift the oil without dispersing it

• The oil forms surface slicks that can be recovered

RRT APPROVAL REQUIRED?

YES:YES:• use in any manner which would cause for them

to be released to the environment.

NO:NO:• hand wiping down of oil on boats• cleaning of boom in containment areas• where all of the effluents are recovered for

proper disposal.

LIMITING FACTORS / ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS

• No flushing across sensitive substrates

• For soft substrates, "wash to water"

• Products must be shown safe for vegetation prior to use

LIMITING FACTORS / ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS

• No wash water from land to enter water bodies without proper treatment

• Use lift and float products on shorelines, to allow oil recovery–except in high energy environments where the oil can not be recovered

Product Inlandsilversides

96h

Mysidshrimp 48h

Aquaclean 70.7 32.7Biosolve 6.4 3.6CN-100 52,200 12,300

Corexit 7664 87 584Corexity 9580 87 32

CytoSol 738 124Nature's WayHS Cleaner

152 193

TOXICITY of SELECTED PRODUCTS (mg/L)

Product Inlandsilversides

96h

Mysidshrimp 48h

PES-51 100 54Petro-Clean 100 110Petro-Green

ADP-71.1 11

Petrotech 25 601 350Premier 99 566 95

PX-700 380 297Simple Green 28 78

SplitDecisions

8.2 8.3

Topsall #30 157 116

T/B MORRIS J. BERMAN SPILL, PUERTO RICO, JANUARY 1994

Substrate Cleaned:Substrate Cleaned: beachrock and riprap

Oil Type:Oil Type: No. 6 fuel oil

Agent Used:Agent Used: Corexit 9580, Corexit 7664,

PES-51

Hot-water flushing

Corexit 9580

PES-51

First field use effectiveness

T/B MORRIS J. BERMAN SPILL, PUERTO RICO, JANUARY 1994

Results:Results: Used on beachrock

Lessons Learned:Lessons Learned:• Corexit 9580 treated oil initially disperses• PES-51 needed a repeat application

JULIE N SPILL, PORTLAND ME, SEPTEMBER 1996

Substrate Cleaned:Substrate Cleaned: salt marsh

Oil Type:Oil Type: IFO-180

Agent Used:Agent Used: Corexit 9580

Results:Results: Further use not recommended

JULIE N SPILL, PORTLAND ME, SEPTEMBER 1996

Lessons Learned:Lessons Learned:

• Only effective where product is directly sprayed on oil

• One application = 50% removal• Treated oil dispersed in the wash water and

moved with tidal flow• Operations window very limited if need to

"wash to water"

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER, TX, 1994

Substrate Cleaned:Substrate Cleaned: Riprap

Oil Type:Oil Type: Crude oil

Agent Used:Agent Used: Corexit 9580

Results:Results: Effective

Lessons Learned:Lessons Learned:None reported

SMALL DIESEL SPILL, PA, 1999

Substrate Cleaned:Substrate Cleaned: Parking lot

Oil Type:Oil Type: Diesel

Agent Used:Agent Used: Biosolve

Results:Results: Treated oil and product washed down storm drain; fish kill for 3 mi downstream

Lessons Learned:Lessons Learned:

All washwaters must be contained

SLEEPY BAY, PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, AK, JULY 1997

Substrate Cleaned:Substrate Cleaned: Gravel beach with subsurface oil

Oil Type:Oil Type: Weathered (8 year old), emulsified crude oil

Agent Used:Agent Used: PES-51

SLEEPY BAY, PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, AK, JULY 1997

Results:Results: Product injected with air knives, water flush released oil; recovery by skimmer/ sorbent. Extensive studies showed short-term oil/product uptake by mussels in immediate area. No long-term impacts.

Lessons Learned:Lessons Learned:PES-51 effective in removing subsurface oil

M/V GENMAR HECTOR, TEXAS CITY, TX, MARCH 2001

Substrate Cleaned:Substrate Cleaned: Vessels

Oil Type:Oil Type: Kuwait crude oil

Agent Used:Agent Used: PES-51

BARGE BOUCHARD 120BUZZARDS BAY, April 2003

Substrate Cleaned:Substrate Cleaned: Cobbles

Oil Type:Oil Type: Heavy fuel oil (API = 7.7)

Agent Tested:Agent Tested: PES-51, Corexit 9580A, Cytosol

PES-51 C-9580

Cytosol

C-9580A

TORO CREEK SPILL, CA, JULY 1997

Substrate Cleaned:Substrate Cleaned: Streambank vegetation

Oil Type:Oil Type: Crude oil

Agent Used:Agent Used: CytoSol

Results:Results: Product increased oil release over water alone.

Lessons Learned:Lessons Learned:No increase in plant mortality noted

ST. MARYS RIVER MYSTERY SPILL, NOVEMBER 2000

Substrate Cleaned:Substrate Cleaned: Bricks, concrete, misc. rocks, limestone pebbles

Oil Type:Oil Type: Weathered heavy fuel oil

Agent Used:Agent Used: Corexit 9580

Results:Results: Inconclusive; did not use further

ST. MARYS RIVER MYSTERY SPILL, NOVEMBER 2000

Lessons Learned:Lessons Learned:• Rain reduced effectiveness

• Only effective where product is directly sprayed on oil

• Under windy conditions, reduce soak time to prevent evaporation

• Less effective on porous substrates (e.g., limestone)

• Key indicator of effectiveness: brown wash water

• Dispersed oil refloated in quiet water (in ~8 minutes)

SURFACE WASHING AGENTSSummary

SWAs can improve oil spill cleanups• Must be properly used• Many products are not suitable for use on

natural substrates• Many products are not suitable for release

to water bodies• Evaluate each product – wide variability in

effectiveness and effects

SURFACE WASHING AGENTSPractical Issues

• Requires LOTS of logistics• Spraying systems, additional PPE• Flushing and containment systems

• Seldom actually used• They are a specialty response tool, most

applicable to small, special problem areas