1. Oil-Water Separation Sponge
By Cara McNamara

2. How can you clean up oil spills in bodies of water if you cannot separate the oil from the water???

3. The Melamine Sponge
Aims to separate and clean oil and other pollutants from the water
Represents a potential environmental cleanup tool for water pollution
Developed by Purdue University researchers in early 2015

5. How It Works The sponges are superhydrophobic and superoleophilic
They reject water while absorbing oils
Made using melamine sponges
A porous material found in household cleaning pads and insulation materials
Sponge is modified by being dipped into a solution of hexane and PDMS ( a silicone rubber)
Results in a thin coat on the sponge

6. How It Works

7. How It Works

8. Benefits Inexpensive Reusable
Has an absorption capacity of times its own weight
Can be used to soak up various types of oils and pollutants
Includes hydrocarbons, coolants, certain pesticides, insulating fluids, carcinogenic compounds (PCBs)
Can be readily adopted for the cleanup of oil spills and industrial chemical leaks

9. Data
Exhibited high selectivity and recyclability with an absorption capacity of greater than 90% after 1000 cycles
Continuously separated oil from water for up to 12 hours
Can separated surfactant-free and stabilized-in-water oils with high efficiency
For maximum efficacy, the pollutant should have low surface tension
the difference in surface tensions allows for the separation by the sponge
Water has a relatively high surface tension

10. Data The sponge can be dragged along the surface to soak up oil
Once full, the sponge floats on top of the water for easy retrieval
By applying suction, this will allow for the continuous use of the sponge to draw out oils while leaving behind the water

11. Why It Is Necessary
The effects of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill of 2010 are expected to be felt for decades to come
Some oil still remains, and the wildlife is still being affected
With the use of the sponge, the longevity of the impact will be decreased as the oil is more efficiently removed from the Gulf

12. Global Impact
Oil spills have both global economic and environmental effects
Seen in the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill
Hurts and kills marine life, including those harvested for consumption
Seafood and oil industries are damaged due to decrease in supply, increasing prices
Human health is also at risk
Water pollution is a worldwide issue, especially when in the ocean
The sponge would fix this!

13. Personal Impact
The sponge could be used on nearby bodies of water (lakes, rivers, ponds) to make them cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing
Cleaning up oil spills will decrease the impact I feel of oil spills
Less of a dramatic change in price of gasoline and other oil
Less of a change in price of seafood

14. Works Cited
technology-rids-oil-from-water.html