A new screen can separate oil and water after they’ve
mingled
There’s an old saying that oil and water don’t mix. But
sometimes they do — especially when a chemical called a surfactant brings the
two together. Once blended, oil and water become tough to pull apart. Unless,
that is, you have a new type of sieve.
Researchers led by Anish Tuteja at the University of
Michigan have created a new type of filter that lets water pass through but
leaves oil behind. The device could be used to help clean water at treatment
plants or mop up oil spills. It’s too soon, however, to know if it will be
useful for large disasters, notes Tuteja.