Development of novel dispersants and sorbent materials
Ibrahim Banat, University of Ulster
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This work package addresses the availability and efficiency of specialized biological surface-active compounds (biosurfactants, biodispersants, bioemulsifiers) and other suitable mineral dispersants and sorbent materials to accelerate oil dispersion, emulsification, sorption and ultimately hydrocarbon bioavailability to microbial degradation leading to complete mineralization.
Major objectives:
- explore the ability and availability of novel biosurfactants, dispersants and sorbent materials particularly those of biological origin for deployment on oil spills in marine and terrestrial environment
- assess the requirements for up-scaled production for each product with the aim of achieving economic commercial large-scale production.