New nanomaterials for selective absorption of oil

A team of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a new material that will help to manage, contain and reduce the environmental damage caused by oil spills. Their invention is a sheet of nanofibers resembling the paper, however, unlike in the present paper, the material can absorb hydrophobic liquids ( like oil) in the water.

The new material can absorb the amount of oil is 20 times greater than the weight of the absorber, the latter may be subsequently revised many times to be reused. Moreover, this material can be used as a component of the complex for water filters, and high-tech suits for creation of a new generation of. It seems that there is no need to specially designate the significance of this development, as well as its potential, the only fly in the ointment in this aspect can be a long time it takes to commercialize the invention.