Absorbent Nanomaterial Cleans up Toxic Water

SCIENCE -- October 19, 2012 at 12:30 PM EDT

Absorbent Nanomaterial Cleans up Toxic Water

While researching ways to detect explosives at airports, Paul Edmiston, a chemist with the College of Wooster, made an unexpected discovery: a new spongelike material he calls "Osorb." The material soaks up oil and other contaminants from water, Miles O'Brien reports.

In this video, Edmiston shows how to whip up a batch of the stuff, adds toxins, filters them out and then drinks it.

Miles reports for the National Science Foundation's* Science Nation.

For the record, the National Science Foundation is an underwriter of the NewsHour.

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