Osorb: Absorbent Nanomaterial Cleans up Toxic Water

Chemist Paul Edmiston discovered Osorb, a glass nanomaterial that absorbs oil and contaminants from water, while researching explosive detection. Supported by the National Science Foundation, Edmiston and his team at ABS Materials are developing water remediation technologies using Osorb. The material is manufactured by combining glass molecules, water, and a catalyst, forming nanoparticles that harden and swell upon contact with contaminants. Osorb is effective in cleaning water contaminated by industrial processes, including oil drilling and electronics manufacturing. It is produced in reactor tubes with specific recipes to target different pollutants.

What was the original goal of Paul Edmiston's research at the College of Worcester?

• To invent a new type of sponge for cleaning

• To create a material for detecting explosives

• To develop a new type of glass for windows

• To find a way to purify drinking water

What is the primary function of Osorb?

• To reflect light

• To soak up oil and contaminants from water

• To conduct electricity

• To absorb sound

What is the first step in the process of creating Osorb?

• Adding a catalyst

• Drying the mixture

• Starting with molecules of glass

• Heating the mixture

Why is there a significant need for products like Osorb?

• They are a source of renewable energy

• They can be used in construction

• They help clean large quantities of contaminated water

• They are used in food processing

In what type of facility is Osorb manufactured?

• In reactor tubes with specific recipes

• In small laboratories

• In traditional factories

• In open fields