Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Comrade_McKenzie

(2,526 posts)

20. 2008: MIT develops a 'paper towel' for oil spills

Reply to Segami (Original post)

Mon Apr 8, 2013, 11:38 PM

Apr 2013

A mat of nanowires with the touch and feel of paper could be an important new tool in the cleanup of oil and other organic pollutants, MIT researchers and colleagues report in the May 30 online issue of Nature Nanotechnology.

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. Some 200,000 tons of oil have already been spilled at sea since the start of the decade.

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oil-paper-0530.html

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

24 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

EXXON Has Solution to Arkansas Oil Now in Wetlands: PAPER TOWELS [View all] Segami Apr 2013 OP

you really can't make this stuff up limpyhobbler Apr 2013 #1

The people in Arkansas better wish for Single Payer Health Care for the years to come. Segami Apr 2013 #5

Put a few Shamwows on there, that should do the trick! Initech Apr 2013 #2

No way! Every knows that Bounty is the quicker-picker-upper! edbermac Apr 2013 #14

I know! Why don't we just put toilet water on it! /Idiocracy solution Initech Apr 2013 #17

They're not paper towels... SidDithers Apr 2013 #3

How do you know it's not paper towels ? You called Exxon to ask what kind of pads they use ? limpyhobbler Apr 2013 #10

Because paper towels behave completely differently when you put them in water... SidDithers Apr 2013 #12

Thanks for the info Sid... PennsylvaniaMatt Apr 2013 #11

I knew as soon as I saw the video yesterday... SidDithers Apr 2013 #13

LOL! Commondreams, color me shocked. nt Comrade_McKenzie Apr 2013 #21

I agree that this is some of the shittiest, stupidest reporting I have ever seen. MADem Apr 2013 #22

What do you want to bet that they are Bounty brand? DollarBillHines Apr 2013 #4

Now we'll go out and destroy forests to make enough paper towels. Cleita Apr 2013 #6

They're called absorbent mats jmowreader Apr 2013 #7

I've seen them around marine fuel docks. Robb Apr 2013 #16

They're bigger than they look in that picture jmowreader Apr 2013 #24

Exxon, using dead trees to clean up dead dinosaurs. JaneyVee Apr 2013 #8

Millions of year dead trees, according to a posts above. TheMadMonk Apr 2013 #18

Didn't Kevin Costner invent some machine or method Auntie Bush Apr 2013 #9

You can't type "kevin costner gulf" into google? /nt TheMadMonk Apr 2013 #19

Don't the Koch Brothers Own Brawny Paper Towels? Yavin4 Apr 2013 #15

2008: MIT develops a 'paper towel' for oil spills Comrade_McKenzie Apr 2013 #20

Not meaning to applaud Exxon but this is quite typical freethought Apr 2013 #23