Review of Solidifiers

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the issue of “Solidification” in an oil spill scenario. Solidifiers are used to recover oil from smaller areas quickly, to prevent the spread of slicks, to recover thin sheens, and to protect areas and wildlife on a rapid basis. Put to use sparingly, the effectiveness, problems involved in mixing of solidifiers with the oil, long-term considerations and possible toxicity have remained a deterrent in its use. The most important issue of all is that solidifying the oil precludes the use of most other countermeasures. It is an important point to recognize that most other countermeasures, especially booms and skimmers, are designed to recover liquid oil. Oil weathering and oil becoming more viscous and even solid are major problems in the oil spill business. So, unless solidified oil can be recovered easily and quickly, solidification will compound the oil spill problem. This, and other factors, may restrict the use of solidifiers to small, thin, and nearshore spills which can be controlled with minor hiccups.