A group of researchers is developing a kind of “sponge” for marine oil spills. It traps and retains oil oil on its surface and is reusable, even in the cold waters of Canada. Spills can cause long-lasting environmental damage both at sea and on coasts, therefore, this innovative solution would be very beneficial in mitigating these problems caused by the oil industry.
How does the oil spill sponge work?
According to the journal Science of The Total Environment, this new material, known as CNF-SP aerogel, combines biodegradable cellulose with spiropyran, a light-sensitive substance. Spiropyran possesses a unique property that allows the aerogel to switch from being oil absorbent to oil repellent, similar to a kitchen sponge that can be used repeatedly.
[post_relacionado]According to Dr. Baiyu Helen Zhang, professor and Canada Research Chair at Memorial University, is the Canada Research Chair at Memorial University of Newfoundland,“once the spiropyran is added to the aerogel, after each use we only need to change the light condition.” Zhang explains that the aerogel acts as an oil absorber under visible light and, after adsorption, switches to ultraviolet light to release the oil. This process allows the material to be effectively reused. In the following video Dr. Baiyu explains:
The material has a light-sensitive substance. Source: Canadian Light Source
Moreover, the material remains effective even when the water temperature drops, says Dr. Xiujuan Chen, assistant professor at the University of Texas-Arlington. Chen says,“In testing the performance of the oil sorbent in different environmental conditions, we observed excellent performance in cold environments, which is especially useful during winters in Canada.”
Analysis of aerogel properties
To analyze the properties of the aerogel before and after exposure to visible and ultraviolet light, the researchers used the Mid-IR beamline of the Canadian Light Source (CLS). This infrastructure has been essential for researchers to carry out pioneering studies and expand their scientific knowledge.
The dr. Zhang emphasizes that“CLS has a unique infrastructure that allows us to conduct a wide variety of interesting research and contribute to scientific knowledge and engineering applications.”
The research team plans to expand its work through large-scale pilot studies and field testing of the material. If the results are positive, CNF-SP aerogel could become a crucial tool to mitigate the effects of oil spills. oil spills spills around the world.
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Source: phys
Photo: Shutterstock