A review on physical remediation techniques for treatment of marine oil spills

There is a huge risk of contamination of water bodies due to the various oil exploration, transport, and industrial operational activities that are taking place across the world. Physical remediation techniques are considered extremely important for tackling the problems of marine oil spills. This paper provides a unique, specific review on the physical remediation of marine oil spills with special emphasis on types of available physical remediation techniques and their working principles. It also describes the chief latest improvements in the physical remediation techniques that have taken place with time. The paper discusses the various ways by which oil and its derivatives contaminate, and the subsequent effects these contaminants have on the marine ecosystem. The article discusses salient features that make physical remediation an effective marine oil spill counter-measure capable of recovering appreciable amounts of oil while causing minimal or no damage to the marine ecosystem and the workers carrying out the cleanup. Regarding the physical remediation methods, future research may focus on the development of hybrid booms, improved performance of skimmers for different oil types, and further applications involving novel materials like nanoparticles, zeolites for sorbents. [Display omitted] •A unique, specific review on physical remediation of marine oil spills.•Merits, demerits of the remediation techniques are analyzed.•Environmental, oceanic conditions at the oil spill site are big factors.•Recent advancements in physical remediation techniques have been discussed.•Future research may target improved performance using skimmers, novel sorbents.