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Dispersants
According to the National Research Council, dispersants are chemical agents developed for breaking up oil slicks on the water's surface. Oil treated with a dispersant is deposited away from the water surface and into a water column, defined as a column of water from the water surface to the floor, as tiny oil droplets. While in the water column, the oil is scattered by currents and undergoes natural methods of dispersion, such as biodegradation, that can render it harmless. If the method is successful, the spreading of the oil is prevented and lessens or eliminates the harm to marine life and habitats, as well as coastal facilities.
Surface Washing Agents
According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, surface washing agents are applied on oil trapped in structures or shorelines and capable of increasing the effectiveness and ease of oil removal. These agents eliminate oil from rocks, beaches and other solid surfaces through a detergent process that does not involve the solubilization and dispersion of oil. They allow released oil to separate from the contaminated object so that it can be more easily recovered.
Surface Collecting Agents
Surface collecting agents as defined in a study by the National Research Council's Committee on Effectiveness of Oil Spill Dispersants are used for controlling the oil's layer thickness by forming a surface film. In contrast with other chemical agents used for cleaning oil spills, surface collecting agents cannot rid the area of oil; they can only stop it from spreading, regardless of the speed at which the water moves.
Bioremediation Agents
According to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, bioremediation agents are nutrient or enzyme additives and microbiological cultures intentionally added to oil spills. They boost the oil's biodegradation rate, which can alleviate the effects of the spill. These agents are normally used following the completion of typical oil mechanical cleanup procedures.
Miscellaneous Oil Spill Control Agents
The EPA defines Miscellaneous Oil Spill Control Agents, or MOSCA, as products other than bioremediation agents, dispersants, surface washing agents and surface collecting agents. These products include chemical-based elastizers, mixed agents, solidifiers, emulsifiers and sorbents.