dispersants
Chemicals that scatter
Dispersants are chemical agents that break up concentrated substances and spread them through a medium.
They're used to clean oil spills by breaking slicks into smaller droplets that disperse through water: Crews applied dispersants to the offshore spill.
Dispersants also appear in industrial applications—preventing particles from clumping in paints, inks, and other formulations.
Surface tension lowering compound
- emulsifierCombines immiscible liquids
- micelleSurfactant molecular cluster
- colloidStable dispersed mixture
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
hydrophilic · lipophilic · nonionic · anionic · cationic · stabilizer · coalescence · adsorption
Floating layer of crude
- cleanupRestoration of order
- bioremediationLiving organisms detoxify pollutants
- boomsRumbles or upswings
- skimmersTools removing surface matter
marine pollution · coastline · ecosystem · hydrocarbons · petroleum · toxicity · EPA · effectiveness
Colored coating substance
- coatingApplied surface covering
- inkWriting fluid
- agrochemicalAgricultural chemical product
- pharmaceuticalManufactured medicinal compound
cosmetic · food additive · cement · detergent · pigment · dye · slurry · industrial cleaning
surfactant
Surface tension lowering compound
- emulsifierCombines immiscible liquids
- micelleSurfactant molecular cluster
- colloidStable dispersed mixture
suspension · hydrophilic · lipophilic · nonionic · anionic · cationic · stabilizer · coalescence · adsorption · interface
oil slick
Floating layer of crude
- cleanupRestoration of order
- bioremediationLiving organisms detoxify pollutants
- boomsRumbles or upswings
skimmers · marine pollution · coastline · ecosystem · hydrocarbons · petroleum · toxicity · EPA · effectiveness · weathering
paint
Colored coating substance
- coatingApplied surface covering
- inkWriting fluid
- agrochemicalAgricultural chemical product
pharmaceutical · cosmetic · food additive · cement · detergent · pigment · dye · slurry · industrial cleaning · water treatment
- lubricantslubricant, lubricants, lubrication, grease, motor oil
- marine pollutionoil spills, chemical spills, fuel spills, industrial waste, toxic waste
- water pollutionsewage, industrial waste, contaminants, algal bloom, toxic waste
- Pharmaceuticscapsules, tablets, tableting, coatings, controlled release
- chemical additivesadditives, plasticizers, stabilizers, antioxidants, preservatives
- colloidscolloid, aerosol, emulsion, gel, hydrosol