The sponge-like hydrophobic material absorbs oil spills effectively and can be spun at a scale of several thousand m2 . As shown in pilot studies on the Suzhou river, blankets produced from this material which have a low dragline resistance can be pulled by two unmanned ships operated by the Baidou satellite system through oil spills, and the oil can be removed from the blankets by extraction steps in a closed system.
CAS news release, May 5, 2016