Dispersants as marine oil spill treating agents: a review on mesoscale tests and field trials

Abstract The increasing oil demand and busy waterways highlight the importance of spill preparedness responses. Dispersants attract attention as an effective response tool to manage impacts major incidents. Despite in-depth laboratory evaluations on effectiveness chemical dispersants their transportation fate spilled oils, how dispersant works at sea remains a question calls for tests with greater realism validate results, bring in energy impacts, evaluate application equipment. Mesoscale studies field trials have thus been widely conducted assist better operations. Such research attempts, however, lack systematic summary. This study tried fill knowledge gaps by introducing mesoscale facilities developed advance understanding various conditions. An up-to-date overview trial assessments has also conducted. We ended this review highlighting public perception future needs promote approval