Arizona and Ohio scientists are working to modify NASA aerogel to absorb oil from spills and stop pollutants from reaching the environment. NASA areogel has been used to capture comet dust in space but may well provide earthbound pollution solutions.
Sometimes called ‘frozen smoke,’ NASA aerogel technology was originally developed at Case Western Reserve University and is being re-engineered to float on the surface of polluted water to absorb oil. Oil could then be safely squeezed out of the saturated aerogel.
Photo Credit: NASA
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Modified Aerogel Technology
- Modifying NASA aerogel technology to absorb oil from spills and prevent environmental contamination.
- Sustainable Oil Spill Cleanup
- Developing sustainable solutions to clean up oil spills using modified aerogel technology.
- Cross-industry Collaboration
- Encouraging collaboration between aerospace and environmental industries to address pollution challenges.
Where This Applies
- Environmental Remediation
- Using modified aerogel technology for effective oil spill cleanup and pollution prevention.
- Aerospace
- Leveraging NASA aerogel technology to develop innovative solutions for environmental challenges.
- Energy
- Exploring the application of modified aerogel technology in the oil and gas industry for environmental sustainability.
