A new material developed by Dr. Paul Edmiston of the College of Wooster in Ohio offers an innovative way to remove toxic contaminants from ground water. The material, called Obsorb, is a reactive glass that swells like a sponge. Like conventional glass, it does not absorb water, yet unlike conventional glass, it can bond with other chemicals it encounters. The new glass can unfold to hold up to eight times its weight and readily binds with gasoline and other volatile organic pollutants, so it acts like a “smart” sponge, capable of cleansing contaminated groundwater.
You can learn more about this technology in Wooster magazine (Summer 2009)
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This issue of the Wooster magazine has a number of interesting and well-researched articles on water resources, as well as a story on Robert Frost. It’s an informative and well-designed college magazine worth checking out.