Wood Sponges

The Issue: Oil Cleanup

Oil spills are notoriously difficult to clean up. Ranging from in the kitchen, in automotive applications, and in the environment, oil spills are dangerous and problematic. Existing solutions often absorb the wrong liquids, are costly, and lack biodegradability. This project examines wood sponges as a revolutionary, sustainable solution.

The Science Behind the Issue

Oil Spills are difficult to clean up due to the hydrophobicHaving a tendency to repel water. nature of oil. Water is a polar molecule, and oil is a nonpolar molecule, meaning that they do not mix. Try this out to learn more:

The Solution: Wood Sponges

Wood sponges are an innovative material that selectively absorb oil. They then can be squeezed out and reused. After cleanup efforts are complete, wood sponges biodegrade, leaving no trace of their existence. The porousHaving small holes that allow liquid to pass through structure of wood sponges allows them to absorb large amounts of oil quickly. Watch the demo below to see one in action.

Making Wood Sponges

Scientists have experimented with several cutting edge strategies to create wood sponges. Navigate through the steps to view the optimal process.

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Preparing Wood

Poplar wood has been frequently used in Wood Sponge tests. However, other similar density woods may be utilized. The wood gets cut into small, uniform blocks.

An Innovative Use Case

Wood sponges have been used in a variety of applications. While creating a project, I considered several, ranging from kitchen scale, automotive use, and environmental usage.The project I concluded is most promising is using wood sponges in the creation of a floating oil barrier. This barrier can be deployed in the event of an oil spill to contain and absorb the oil, preventing it from spreading and causing further damage. The sponge will have floating buoyancy systems that prevent it from sinking. Once the sponge has reached saturation, it can be removed from the water, the bouyancy system deflated, and sponge squeezed out. Due to the sponges flexible properties, once the oil is absorbed, the barrier can be easily removed and the barrier rolled up to squeeze out oil for reuse.

3D Model

Explore the structure of a wood sponge to understand its porosity and surface treatment, which contribute to its effectiveness in oil absorption.

Reflection

I feel like I went above and beyond my learning targets and self assigned goals. I was able to create drawings, explore the material, and plan out tests. I was also proud of the way I showcased the material and provided background information. For example, when I discuss the properties of oil and water, I was proud of the simulation and info I provided. Undoubtedly, the most difficult part of the assignment was the 3D modeling due to technical difficulties. (Fusion did not work for me on any of the 6 computers I tried). If I had more time or resources I would like to pursue the 3D modeling further.

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