Californian scientists managed to create nanosponge absorbent material that can be sewn into a swimsuit and wetsuit to absorb water pollution while its wearer swims.
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Swimsuit padded with sucrose-based material is water-repellent, but suck harmful contaminants. Cengiz Ozkan and Mihri Ozkan, are a married couple who find such material. Their discovery won an international competition and will patented technology this week in Rome.
"The material can be sewn into a swimsuit that can clean water for its swimming," said Mihri Ozkan, a professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of California. Ozkan said she and her husband had brought the material studied for almost four years and was inspired to design new ways to clean up oil spills in the ocean.
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| The bikini's pollution-absorbing Sponge inserts. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1W6VgrP) |
This swimsuit is made of a 3D printing flexible plastic and contain sugar-based substance called sponge. Such materials are porous and can absorb contaminants up to 25 times its weight. When the sponge is full, sponge should be removed from clothing and heated to 1,000 ºC (1,832 ºF) to melt the material. Contaminants are removed, and the remainder is recycled into a new sponge.
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| The elastic base of the bikini, minus its pollution-absorbing inserts. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1W6VgrP) |
"This sponge material made from sugar, so friendly to the environment," said Mihri Ozkan. All sorts of contaminants will be collected by the sponge and trapped in nanoporous architecture of the sponge, and will not touch its skin.
It weighs less than two ounces designed, and as thin as a hair. They hopes that clothing can be mass-produced, because the price is quite cheap. "Our goal, so that in the future everyone can contribute to the cleanliness of the sea through sporting activities or just a summer vacation.". *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | GIZMAG | TAKEPART.COM]
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