Biodegradable lignin surfactant disperses oil spills with droplet dynamics mapped by AutoDrop algorithm

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The development of environmentally benign dispersants is critical for mitigating the ecological impact of marine oil spills. This study introduces a novel dispersant that integrates PEG-functionalized lignin with biosurfactant of lecithin and Tween 80. The key advancements are (1) the first use of PEG-functionalized lignin blended with lecithin/Tween 80, (2) the development of the AutoDrop Algorithm for automated, precise droplet analysis, and (3) a comprehensive eco-toxicological profile against commercial dispersants. The optimized formulations, L+T/DAL-Oz-PEG400, demonstrated superior performance, effectively suppressing oversized droplet formation while maintaining high emulsification efficiency. In Hibernia and Hebron crude oils, over 90 % of droplets remained below 12.87 μm and 9.96 μm, respectively. Emulsion stability was evaluated using tail index (TI) and generalized Pareto distribution (GPD), with results showing TI = 1.74, ξ = 0.08, and σ = 4.83 for Hibernia oil, and TI = 2.96, ξ = 0.26, and σ = 10.67 for Hebron oil. Interfacial tension was reduced to 9.33 mN/m and 9.01 mN/m in Hibernia and Hebron oils, respectively. Crucially, the blend showed near-zero mortality in Artemia salina and Atlantic cod larvae, sharply contrasting the Corexit 9500 toxicity. This study established a new approach for designing effective, low toxicity dispersants through chemical modification.