Oil-Catching Sponge Could Be Solution for 100 Billion Barrels of Oil-Contaminated Wastewater Generat

[Judi Lynn]

Oil-Catching Sponge Could Be Solution for 100 Billion Barrels of Oil-Contaminated Wastewater Generated Every Year
By IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON JANUARY 20, 2020



Oil-catching sponge could soak up residue from offshore drilling.

Drilling and fracking for oil under the seabed produces 100 billion barrels of oil-contaminated wastewater every year by releasing tiny oil droplets into the surrounding water.

Most efforts to remove oil from water focus on removing large oil slicks from industrial spills but these aren’t suitable for removing tiny droplets. Instead, scientists are looking for new ways to clean the water.

Now, researchers at the University of Toronto (U of T) and Imperial College London have developed a sponge that removes over 90 percent of oil microdroplets from wastewater within ten minutes.

After capturing oil from wastewater, the sponge can be treated with a solvent, which releases the oil from the sponge. The oil can then be recycled; the sponge, ready to be used again.

More:
https://scitechdaily.com/oil-catching-sponge-could-be-solution-for-100-billion-barrels-of-oil-contaminated-wastewater-generated-every-year/

[Mersky]

1. Whoa. Neat idea.

Would be like one of those oil-grabbing sponges used in hot tubs.

[Beakybird]

2. I hope this doesn't encourage more drilling and fracking.

But I'm interested in this oil absorbing sponge. I have a pimple growing on my nose.

[msongs]

3. must a humongous sponge, article does not talk about sizes tho nt