Magnetic sponge: sustainable solution to oil pollution?

Images of marine animals that have been stranded ashore with a thick layer of oil have been circulating on the Internet for many years. There are already many methods for eliminating the damage caused by oil pollution. However, these can be a very expensive and complicated process. Methods used to date include burning the oil, using chemical dispersants to break through the oil slick, or skimming the water surface. These attempts to solve the problem often disrupt marine life and the material that is used for disposal can often no longer be recycled itself. 

To counteract these criticisms, some researchers from Northwestern University published the results of their research in May Study about the effectiveness of the "OHM Sponge" (oelophilic, hydrophobic and magnetic), so translated a sponge that is magnetic, hydrophobic and oil-attracting at the same time. The great thing about this concept: the sponge can absorb up to 30 times as much oil as the sponge's own weight. After the oil has been absorbed, the sponge can simply be squeezed out and can be used again after each use. It was also observed in the study that the sponge lost less than 1% of the absorbed oil even under extreme water conditions (such as strong waves). The magnetic sponge could therefore offer an effective and sustainable alternative to removing oil pollution. 

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GALLERY: Tom Barrett on Unsplash

CONTRIBUTION TO OPTION GERMANY