A new method for solving the problem of destroying oil from the water surface was proposed by scientists from the Center for New Chemical Technologies, Federal Research Center “Institute of Catalysis SB RAS”. They have developed an innovative material that is twice as effective as its analogues, reports Ferra.ru.

This carbon foam is created on the basis of a propane-butane mixture and has a cellular structure. One of the key advantages of the new material is its ability to be produced from oil refining waste. Moreover, carbon foam, having absorbed oil, can be recovered for reuse. Thus, the developed material demonstrates a high degree of resistance and can withstand multiple cycles of cleaning from oil products.

The source explains how the process of carbon foam synthesis occurs, which is carried out in two stages at atmospheric pressure and does not require the use of blowing agents. First, the propane-butane mixture is heated to form pyrolysis resins containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Foaming then occurs, which creates gas bubbles leading to the formation of carbon foam. The process involves calcination in air at high temperatures, which leads to the combustion of the bulk of the oil.