Dispersants: Corexit: History
Corexit was invented during the late 1960’s after conservationists grew ever more concerned about the environmental effects of oil spills. Corexit 7664 was originally developed by Standard Oil in New Jersey, which was the first dispersant to be developed for use in marine environments. Later, Exxon created Corexit 9527 in order to allow for application by aircraft. The last formula to be invented is Corexit 9500. This newest mixture is specifically engineered to disperse heavy, weathered, and emulsified oils. Weathered oils are those that have been exposed to the elements, and consequently their chemical composition and physical properties have been altered. Today, the newer formulas, Corexit 9500 and 9527, are used to clean up oil spills. A brief, known history of the use of Corexit is shown below.
References
"Oil Spill Case Histories 1967-1991: Summaries of Significant U.S. and International Oil Spills." Hazardous Materials Response and Assessment Division. NOAA, 1 Sept. 1992. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. <http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/Oil_Spill_Case_Histories.pdf.