The Unexpected Innovation That Could Change Oil Spill Cleanup Forever | XPRIZE Innovators

A simple five-gallon bucket? That's how Elastec, an Illinois-based team far from the ocean, stumbled upon a surprising way to separate oil from water – a discovery that changed oil spill cleanup forever.

Founders Donnie Wilson and Jeff Cantrell, who cleaned oil pits in Illinois, witnessed oil clinging to a rotating bucket and had a "light bulb moment." This accidental insight led them to develop an innovative oil skimmer that won XPRIZE's Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup XCHALLENGE, which was launched in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Elastec's skimmer is made of oleophilic material, which grabs oil and leaves behind water. What makes it truly unique though is its design – vertical spinning plastic discs with grooves help to maximize surface area without adding additional weight. This breakthrough technology achieved an astounding oil removal rate of 4,760 gallons per minute with 89.5% efficiency – more than tripling the industry's previous best!

Discover the story behind this remarkable innovation in oil spill technology and the unexpected moment that sparked a game-changing approach to ocean cleanup and environmental protection.

#OilSpill #Cleanup #Elastec #Innovation #XPRIZE #OceanHealth #Environment #Pollution #DeepwaterHorizon

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