Groundbreaking: The Israeli development that promises to fight one of the toughest pollutants in the sea
Researchers from Ben-Gurion University have developed a "smart sponge" capable of absorbing oil and fuel in amounts up to one hundred times its weight. The material attracts bacteria that break down the pollution and subsequently the sponge itself, and the development is in the process of being patented.
An innovative and green method for treating crude oil and fuel pollution in the marine environment, developed by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, presents a breakthrough solution to one of the most severe environmental hazards in the world. The research was published in the prestigious scientific journal Chemical Engineering Journal Advances.
Researchers have developed a unique strategy that combines physical adsorption of pollutants with their biological degradation by bacteria, all with the help of a special, lightweight material known as an "aerogel."
To understand the breakthrough, one can imagine a "smart sponge" made of natural paper fibers (cellulose), which undergo a process of deep-freeze drying and controlled burning without oxygen, until a porous and extremely light structure is obtained. This sponge is capable of absorbing huge amounts of oil and fuel, reaching a ratio of up to one hundred times its own weight.
However, the real discovery is that the sponge does not just collect the dirt, but also actively "invites" nature's cleaners to break it down. In nature, there are bacteria capable of breaking down oil (such as the Pseudomonas strain studied, which originated from contaminated sea sand from Israel's shores), but in open sea waters, they lack essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to multiply and act efficiently.
Scientists solved this by pre-loading the sponge fibers with those essential fertilizers. When the sponge is thrown into the contaminated water, it absorbs the oil, and the bacteria are attracted to it to enjoy the available nutrients. They settle on the surface of the sponge, break down the contaminated fuel, and at the end of the process — after the oil has been eliminated — they also break down the sponge itself, which is made of natural materials, so that no trace of the hazard remains in the ocean.
The project is led by a group of researchers headed by Prof. Ariel Kushmaro and Dr. Danit Lisa Krasgi-Biron from the Faculty of Engineering at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Alongside them, other scientists from the university took part in the research, including Dr. Hana Barak, Dr. Barak Halpern, Dr. Esti Kramarski-Winter, Lee Sheli, Noa Azri, Prof. Shmuel Hayun, and the late Prof. Alex Sivan.
Prof. Ariel Kushmaro explained the importance of the technology: "These findings demonstrate the potential of the method we developed as a versatile and sustainable platform for treating oil spills in an aquatic or marine area. The ability to match physical adsorption with biological degradation offers a promising and innovative alternative to conventional methods, addressing both immediate containment and long-term environmental recovery."
This development is currently in the process of being registered as a patent through BGN Technologies, the technology commercialization company of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Dr. Galit Mazoz-Perlmutter, VP of Business Development at the company, emphasized the applied potential of the discovery: "This technology connects scientific excellence with an urgent environmental need, and it has the potential to become a commercial solution with a significant impact for the energy, shipping, and environmental restoration industries around the world."
She added that "true innovation is created when science succeeds in solving a global problem in a way that can also be applied on a large scale." This research, which paves a new and green way for preserving the seas and oceans, received support and funding from the Abraham and Stella Goldstein-Goren Foundation, the John A. Unger Chair in Biotechnology, and the Ministry of Regional Cooperation.
