Recent advancement in the development of new dispersants as oil spill treating agents

The dispersant application has been recognized as an effective marine oil spill response option. Sustainable dispersants are continuously formulated to minimize potential ecological concerns. This review summarized recent research progress in developing effective and environmentally friendly dispersants by using green, food grade, and biological surfactants and additives. The oil dispersion efficiency and toxicity of these newly generated dispersants have also been discussed. We ended this review by highlighting the future research needs to promote the application of these new formulas in marine oil spill incidents.