Methods

1. Gather all materials.

2. Examine polyurethane foam using Scanning Electron Microscope.
3. Functionalize Industrial Foams:
a. Cut foam into 15 1.5x1.5x1 shapes.
b. Vigorously rub 0.5g teflon nanoparticles onto one surface of 5 sponges
using charged rod. Record mass.
c. Repeat using 0.5g silica nanoparticles on 5 new sponges.
d. Leave remaining 5 sponges untouched for control.
4. Run Absorption Tests in petri dish with 20 mL water and 5 drops of motor oil
for 30 seconds. Record mass of sponge and system before and after.
5. Synthesize Starch and Silicone Sponges:
a. Mix hexane, silicone, and cornstarch in 1:1:1 ratio. Add sugar. Let set in
petri dish. Boil sugar out.
6. Run Absorption Tests in petri dish with 20 mL water and 5 drops of motor oil
for 30 seconds. Record mass of sponge and system before and after.
7. Run Contact Angle Tests with two fresh sponges from each group.
8. Run Reusability Tests with two fresh sponges from each group:
a. Repeat Absorption Test procedure three times with same sponge.
9. Dispose of all materials safely. Draw conclusions.

Materials
Polyurethane Functionalization: Biodegradable Starch-Silicone Experimentation:
- White polyurethane foam Synthesis: - Motor Oil
- Corn starch - Petri dishes
(often used as packing
- Silicone - Balance
foam, cushion foam)
- Hexane - Graduated Cylinder
- Teflon nanoparticles
- Granular sugar - Pipettes
- Silica nanoparticles
- Beakers - High speed, high definition
- Stirring rod, paper towels
- Stir Bars camera
- Balance, weigh boats
- Balance - Synthesized /
- Gloves
- Stirring rods Functionalized sponges
- Scoopula
- Fume hood - Scanning Electron
- Gloves, goggles Microscope
- Petri dishes - Stopwatch

Conclusion
In this experiment, none of my hypotheses were proven correct. My
first hypothesis was incorrect in that the control, not the teflon-
functionalized sponges, was the most absorbent, as shown in Figure 1. It
also incorrect in that the control was the most water repellent or
superhydrophobic, not the teflon-functionalized sponges, as shown in
Table 2. However, these two findings are consistent with each other, and
so my expectation of consistency was supported by the data. Hypothesis
two, that the biodegradable sponges would best retain their absorption
capabilities, was also incorrect; the teflon-functionalized sponges were
by far the most reusable of the four groups, as shown in Figure 2. Based
on these observations, I can conclude that unfunctionalized
polyurethane foam is the most oleophilic, and teflon-functionalized
polyurethane foam is the most reusable. Because the absorbency of
Groups A and B was more similar than the reusability of Groups A and B,
I can further conclude that Group B is the optimal choice for oil removal
treatment.

Impact
Currently, oil spills threaten the quality of almost every ocean,
affecting many aquatic plants and animals, fish populations for fishing,
ease of sailing, and ocean temperature, among many other factors.
There is not yet a system for safe, reusable, efficient, and economically
sound removal of this toxic oil. This project provides a solution to the
lack of a current removal method that is environmentally friendly,
economically sound, and reusable, and analyzes many potential
solutions to find the most optimal one. With the help of a reusable,
recycled, toluene-functionalized polyurethane sponge, the quality of
our oceans, the survival of our marine plant and animal life, and the
temperature of our oceans can be restored and safeguarded against
future destructive oil spills.

Abstract, Safety, and Works

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