A new material inspired by the roots of a cactus can stay stable while absorbing water 933 times faster than it loses the fluid to evaporation.
The material takes its cues from the roots of the bunny ears cactus (Opuntia microdasys), a shrubby, round-paddled cactus native to northern and central Mexico. Like any cactus, the bunny ears cactus has adapted for feast and famine: When rare rains hit its desert habitat, its roots can absorb and store heavy loads of water. They also resist water loss in dry times, and are capable of absorbing and resorbing large volumes over and over again.
Those are enviable properties for a variety of applications, says Sang Joon Lee, the director of the Center for Biofluid and Biomimic Research at Pohang Univ. of Science and Technology in Korea. “The ability of materials to absorb and store liquid inside a well-defined structure is highly important not only to high-tech fields in material science, nanotechnology, and bioengineering, but also to various engineering applications, such as liquid filtration, medical treatment, hygiene, apparel, food packing, and horticulture,” says Lee.
Hoping to recreate the cactus root’s properties, Lee...
Would you like to access the complete CEP News Update?
No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.
You have completed 0 of 2 steps.
-
Log in
You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.
-
AIChE Membership
You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.
Copyright Permissions
Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It’s easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply click here to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.
