Researchers from Michigan Technological University have found a simple way to remove nearly 100 percent of nanomaterials from water. In testing, the researchers investigated carbon nanotubes, graphene, boron nitride nanotubes, boron nitride nanosheets, and zinc oxide nanowires, which are used in many applications from carbon fiber golf clubs to sunscreen. Traditional filtration techniques such as paper and mesh often don’t work. What does work is shaking a mix of water and oil. This works because of the shape of one- and two-dimensional nanomaterials. As the oil and water separate after some rigorous shaking, the wires, tubes and sheets settle at the bottom of the oil, just above the water. The oils trap them. However, zero-dimensional nanomaterials, such as nanospheres do not get trapped.
