A Northwestern University-led team has developed a highly porous smart sponge that selectively soaks up oil in water.
A Northwestern University-led team has developed a highly porous smart sponge that selectively soaks up oil in water.
With an ability to absorb more than 30 times its weight in oil, the sponge could be used to inexpensively and efficiently clean up oil spills without harming marine life. After squeezing the oil out of the sponge, it can be reused many dozens of times without losing its effectiveness.
“Oil spills have devastating and immediate effects on the environment, human health and economy,” said Northwestern’s Vinayak Dravid, who led the research. “Although many spills are small and may not make the evening news, they are still profoundly invasive to the ecosystem and surrounding community. Our sponge can remediate these spills in a more economic, efficient and eco-friendly manner than any of the current state-of-the-art solutions.”
The research was published yesterday (May 27) in the journal Industrial Engineering and Chemical Research.
Read more at Northwestern University
Photo Credit: Petty Officer 1st Class Michael B. Watkins, United States Navy via Wikimedia Commons
