New pollen sponge could tackle water contaminants

The reusable, biodegradable sponges measure 5cm in diameter and can soak up oil and other organic solvents, making them a promising alternative for tackling marine oil spills when scaled-up, researchers said.

Made of sunflower pollen, the sponge is hydrophobic thanks to a coat of fatty acid. In lab experiments, scientists showed the sponge’s ability to absorb oil contaminants of various densities at a rate comparable to that of commercial oil absorbents.

Oil spills are difficult to clean up and result in severe damage to the marine ecosystem. Conventional clean-up methods, including using chemical dispersants to break oil down into small droplets or absorbing it with expensive, unrecyclable materials can worsen damage.

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The research builds on NTU’s work finding new uses for pollen by transforming its tough shell into microgel particles. This soft, gel-like material is then used as a building block for a new category of environmentally sustainable materials. The team behind the new study is made up of researchers from NTU Singapore and South Korea’s Sungkyunkwan University.