Abstract

The traces of hazardous chemicals used in oil spill response have harmed marine creatures with long-term cytotoxic impacts, so, a greener alternative is to use biodegradable components in the dispersant formulation. This study demonstrates the efficiency of carboxymethylated and acylated chitosan combined with powdered orange peel (OP-D) in the emulsification of marine diesel and 2T-oil with different qualities of water. OP-D particles undergo Pickering emulsions, whereas the amphiphilic behaviour of the Blend and hydrophobically modified carboxymethyl chitosan-orange peels (CSOP-A) favours conventional emulsions through steric and electrostatic stabilization. The emulsion formation rate was maximum with OP-D in saline water and autonomous of the water quality with Blend. Additionally, different hydrophobic moieties on the surface of the Blend and CSOP-A affected the oil droplets’ stabilization rate. Changing pH altered the surface properties of particles and hence the nature of the formed emulsion range from gel-like to creamy, suggesting particle-particle to particle-oil interactions. An increase in electrolyte concentration enhanced the coalescence rate of marine diesel with CSOP-A. The oil droplet size in the formed emulsion increases with a temperature decrease up to 2 °C, and the emulsion stabilization rate was <10% at −20 °C. The traces of these synthesized materials were <1000 mg L⁻¹ in the water phase after the removal of oils. Since these materials are bio-based, their presence in the ecosystem is less hazardousness than commercial dispersants.