In recent times the news told us of entire ecosystems irreparably damaged by oil spills at sea. Therefore, we wondered if it would ever be possible to avoid all this through a new invention. In this regard, the University of Science and Technology of China has patented a new sponge sorb that can be promptly remedied.
The state of the art and the invention
With traditional absorbents, it is not possible to absorb large quantities of oil due to the high viscosity (>1000 mPa-s). Therefore, in the case of large oil spills at sea, a team of scientists from the Chinese University has developed a system to avoid much of the damage. In fact, the research team used solar energy as an energy source to significantly reduce the oil’s viscosity in order to increase absorption.
The researchers have developed a sponge of polyurethane modified with carbon nanotube (CNT). The latter showed a total absorption of sunlight, so that it drastically reduced the viscosity of the oil. In numbers, the invention allows to absorb 20 times more oil than previously collected. Thus, the special sponge can be used in the event of natural disasters due to oil spills at sea.
The strengths of the invention
- 95% reduction in time spent absorbing oil
- Quantity of oil absorbed: 20 times the quantity previously collected
- Reduction of environmental and economic damage
- Recycling of the porous material used
- Very high absorption rate of the sponge by absorption
For practical applications, porous material can be used to contain and reclaim water in the event of an oil spill. Therefore, in addition to protecting the environment, it is a tool that can be used in oil extraction and refining plants.
The digital edition of the Patent is available. Click here and download your digital copy.