BEIJING — Researchers at Peking University in China have developed special nanotube sponges which have the potential to be used in many fields related to water purification, according to an article on nanowerk.com.
The carbon nanotube sponges demonstrate high porosity, super elasticity and robustness, and are extremely light weight, the story reported.
“We hope to give an example to the industry that this sponge is a real thing they can prepare at low cost, make versatile products with high performance, and solve environmental problems utilizing nanotechnology,” Anyuan Cao, a professor in the Department of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology at Peking University.
According to the researchers, the new technology is capable of absorbing a wide range of solvents and oils with excellent selectivity, recyclability and absorption capacities up to 180 times their own weight, two orders of magnitude higher than activated carbon, according to the report.
Source: Water Technology Online
