US Texas Tech develops oil-absorbing cotton product with Indian firm

Raw, low-micronaire cotton is hydrophobic, meaning it will float on the surface of the water without sinking, which is ideal for toxic oil absorption, Seshadri Ramkumar, professor of chemical countermeasures and advanced materials, said in a press release from the university.

“Oil spills have become a recurring issue around the world, destroying wildlife habitats, compromising food sources and threatening human health,” Ramkumar said.

Designed for marine environments, the product can absorb oil while repelling water.

While most commercial oil-absorbing materials are synthetic, this mat is made of natural materials that are biodegradable and safe for marine life. The product is ready for distribution and available in cent per cent cotton or 90 per cent cotton formulations—both reusable and environmentally safe.

“Microplastics are harmful to ocean life, so the use of synthetic materials to treat oil spills ultimately compounds the problem of ocean pollution,” Ramkumar said. “Cotton-based products are more sustainable and will not contaminate the ocean with microplastics.”

Ramkumar and his team were inspired to research oil-absorbing technology after the Deepwater Horizon spill of 2010, which released almost five million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Now, Texas Tech's research could have significant environmental implications in the aftermath of California's devastating oil spill.

The fundamental work in Ramkumar's laboratory was supported by Cotton Incorporated.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)