Nanowire Mesh Absorbs Oil Spills
1 June 2008, 12:18
Categories: membranes superhydrophobicphilic
MIT researchers have developed a sheet of nanowires that could be an important new tool in the cleanup of oil and other organic pollutants. The potassium manganese oxide nanowire membrane can absorb up to 20 times its weight in oil, and can also be recycled many times for future use.
“What we found is that we can make ‘paper’ from an interwoven mesh of nanowires that is able to selectively absorb hydrophobic liquids—oil-like liquids—from water,” said Francesco Stellacci, an associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and leader of the work.
Two key properties make the system work. First, the nanowires form a spaghetti-like mat with many tiny pores that make for good capillarity, or the ability to absorb liquids. Second, a water-repelling coating keeps water from penetrating into the membrane. Oil, however, isn’t affected, and seeps into the membrane. In addition to its environmental applications, the nanowire paper could also impact filtering and the purification of water.
Posted by: The Editors
Permalink to this article
Previous: Jumpin' Jiminy!
Next: Better Bots