Dynaverse.net
Off Topic => Engineering => Topic started by: Nemesis on May 31, 2008, 01:28:04 pm
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Link to full article (http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oil-paper-0530.html)
The scientists say they have created a membrane that can absorb up to 20 times its weight in oil, and can be recycled many times for future use. The oil itself can also be recovered.
She noted that it could also be inexpensive to produce because the nanowires of which it is composed can be fabricated in larger quantities than other nanomaterials.
Made of potassium manganese oxide, the nanowires are stable at high temperatures. As a result, oil within a loaded membrane can be removed by heating above the boiling point of oil. The oil evaporates, and can be condensed back into a liquid. The membrane--and oil--can be used again.
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.
I wonder if it might be possible to use this to remove contaminants from oil (other than water) for recycling?
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I remember once on the news that hair clippings could be used to help soak up oil spills in the water. It was like 10 years ago or so. This article reminded me of that.
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There are a great many ways to clean up oil spills and more are being constantly developed. Where this one becomes interesting is the ability to recover the oil without contaminants. The article mentions the high ratio of weight of oil to weight of the absorbent but also important is the density of the dry absorbent and the resultant density of the saturated material. You don't want a material that just blows away on the lightest of breezes or your ability to deploy it is quite limited.
A couple of years ago we had another nanotube article (http://www.dynaverse.net/forum/index.php/topic,163362004.msg1122648755.html#msg1122648755) posted about one that could (in theory) be used to filter water. Use that material as a dike to contain the oil while letting water out. Then use the membrane in this article to absorb the contained oil. Unlike most diking material you can constrict the area contained while allowing the water to escape and concentrating the oil for pickup.
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Wonder if it is fine enough to filter air particles?