Magnets Prove Effective in Cleaning Up Oil Spills

By Admin
Researchers at MIT have discovered a new method to improve the efficiency of cleaning up oil spills, using magnets. The “surprisingly simple but...

 

Researchers at MIT have discovered a new method to improve the efficiency of cleaning up oil spills, using magnets. The “surprisingly simple but effective method for magnetically separating oil and water,” according to the university's website, could prove to be more thorough, less costly and less harmful to the environment.

Inspired by the catastrophic events of the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Markus Zahn, a professor of electrical engineering at MIT, began testing his idea as explained in a recently posted YouTube video.

"The current oil spill technology, like skimmers -- they're very good in calm waters but in choppy waters, their oil recovery efficiency is about 50 percent… Our technology is supposed to improve that efficiency," postdoc Sharhriar Khushrushahi explains in the video. Think of it as an “add-on technology,” he explains.

SEE OTHER TOP STORIES IN THE ENERGY DIGITAL CONTENT NETWORK

India's Unfavorable Climate in Oil & Gas

Gulf Oil Platforms and Refineries Recover from Isaac

Read More in Energy Digital's September Issue

Unlike burning the oil, this method would not harm the environment and could be carried out quickly and continuously.

Considering the rate and frequency of oil spill occurring every year, the technology could play a huge role in saving ecosystems around the globe.

DOWNLOAD THE ENERGY DIGITAL IPAD APP

 

Share

Featured Articles

Honeywell debunks hydrogen energy and its global challenges

Maya Gomez, Director of Green H2 CCM at Honeywell, uncovers the different types of hydrogen and the challenges of applying them for more sustainable energy

ABB Motion & WindESCo partner to strengthen wind energy

ABB Motion invests in WindESCo to sustain wind turbine performance, in a renewable energy drive that will help ABB in its net zero ambitions

Shell Energy UK and Germany acquired by Octopus Energy

Octopus delivers industry leading service whilst investing in clean energy systems — we will deliver this to the new customers too, says CEO Greg Jackson

Sustainability LIVE links to energy and electrification

Sustainability

Green energy: A hot topic at Sustainability LIVE 2023

Sustainability

Sustainability LIVE London sells out on 2023 conference

Sustainability