MIT fabricates nanowire mats to selectively absorb oil

A team of astute MIT researchers have developed a sophisticated new material that could help control, contain and lessen the environmental impact of future oil spills. The creation is a mat of nanowires that actually looks a lot like paper, but unlike the material your paycheck gets printed on, this stuff can "selectively absorb hydrophobic liquids (oil-like liquids) from water." We're talking about a membrane that can "absorb up to 20 times its weight in oil, and can be recycled many times for future use." Outside of this, it could also be used in water filtration processes and for designing the next great wetsuit. Okay, so we're making that last one up, but don't dare say it's beyond the realm of possibility.

[Via NewScientist]

[Jesse S @ Jun 1st 2008 11:58PM]

That's fucking awesome.

[derX @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:07AM]

I literally said those same exact words when I read this article.

-------

"The creation is a mat of nanowires that actually looks a lot like paper, but unlike the material your paycheck gets printed on..."

But all of us use direct deposit, of course, because we're trying to make a cleaner, safer tomorrow.

*drives hybrid to a monster truck rally*

[JLTate @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:07AM]

If Engadget reported on half the ideas that scientists working (playing?) at universities experiment with you guys would run out of "fucking awesome"s in a week. Science is fun. :)

[David @ Jun 1st 2008 11:59PM]

briefs please

[alex @ Jun 1st 2008 11:59PM]

oooh, i hope someone makes a double entendre about fluids!

[David @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:04AM]

These researchers definately catch my drift..

[David @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:06AM]

I'm overflowing with excitement... good thing I'm wearing these cool new pants

[derX @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:10AM]

You know, theoretically, at least, since this can absorb fluids 20times it's weight....

If something--or someone--were to be wrapped in this material, and but into a vat of oil, said object--or person--would be crushed and very slowly, I'd assume.

Now, what were you saying about Steve Jobs? Oh yeah, when I think of a phone made mainly of metal and glass, I think environmentally friendly because we know how readily those things decompose.

[David @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:12AM]

Does it work for blood?

[RoboDan @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:00AM]

Well blood is composed mainly of red blood cells and plasma. Plasma is mostly water, nutrients, and electrolytes (so it's hydrophilic). Red blood cells are composed of a hydrophobic membrane with integral membrane proteins and a hydrophilic cytoplasm.

In theory, this could be used to "suck up" the red blood cells. However, it may also break the red blood cell membrane apart in a similar fashion as the detergent effect, which would release the red dye, which is hydrophilic, and would likely seep back into the textile/surface being cleaned. The evidence would still be there.

Next week on "Getting away with Murder": Did you know that only about 20% of murders go to court and lead to a conviction? Safety is an illusion.

On a serious note... although I applaud these scientists for their discovery and intentions, I believe that more research needs to be done into its effects on the normal concentrations of hydrophobic solutes and on cell membranes before implementation.

[Jherez @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:16AM]

Are you serious...no really are you?

[Paulmichael @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:20AM]

I thought (based on the headline) that they had created some sort of super-pad for all those oily teen foreheads! This application is good too, though.

[peekinde @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:43AM]

thats wat I thought exactly!

[Casper42 @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:27AM]

it's beyond the realm of possibility

[peekinde @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:43AM]

stick it into someone fat and in a couple of hours, pull out eh fat

[Abuzar @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:51AM]

We already have a safer way of doing that. It's called liposuction.

[peekinde @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:54AM]

but lipo = bruise!

this = passive awesomeness

[Abuzar @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:57AM]

You would have to slice someone open to get to the fat...

[ethana2 @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:42AM]

and I thought they smelled bad...
-on the /outside/.

[marty.com.au @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:41AM]

What is the pen in there for?
oh yeah I get it... Selectivly absorb.. It absorbed the oil and not the pen.. Wow thats really neat!!

Seriously though, if they can program it to absorb different things, would make a kick ass filter...

[derX @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:44AM]

And what would a kick ass filter do? Have it around the ass, absorbing the kick and nothing else?

[~~Tito~~ @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:00AM]

Farts?

[Abuzar @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:42AM]

lol Clak

You're sad.

[Abuzar @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:50AM]

Would make a nice cleaning cloth for screens...

[Valgas @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:52AM]

I want it to filter my water.

[phanbouy @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:54AM]

might wanna drink less oily water

[Tucson @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:56AM]

This is a few months old.

[jason @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:12AM]

they have these. down south, when an oil spill happens we have what they call "diapers"

they are about a 3x3 mat that soaks the oil out of the dirt. the only down side is that they are >$150 and are 1 use.


be interesting to see the price of these.

[AlphaTeam @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:17AM]

I can see women start using this to wipe the oil off their faces.

[phanbouy @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:18AM]

you're not in frequent close contact with them are ya?

[phanbouy @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:53AM]

hmmm ... i'm suspecting you've been hijacked by user "Steffen Jobbs", the full time 'joke member' (that's what she said to him).

[tekdroid @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:57AM]

no use for the fast-food industry, then.

[Jaque-o @ Jun 2nd 2008 3:33AM]

Can it absorb liquids from pants aswell? 'cause while reading this i made a bit of a mess :o

[Isaac Levy @ Jun 2nd 2008 7:32AM]

Quality posts like these are why I read engadget.

[x3qt0r @ Jun 2nd 2008 9:10AM]

will try this on my oily face

[Valgas @ Jun 2nd 2008 11:31AM]

It can be used for water filtration systems too.

[ac @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:26PM]

Can the oil soaked up be extracted with something else? May be this is a better and cheaper way to extract oil from Alberta oil sand or oil shale.