Magnetic surfactants in soap could improve pollution clean up

Scientists in England have created the first soap that can be controlled by magnets, which could revolutionise the cleanup of environmental disasters such as oil spills. 

The researchers, from the University of Bristol in England, made the soap by dissolving iron in chloride and bromide ions. The soap responded to the magnetic field, opening up the possibility of a detergent that can be used to clean pollution and also be lifted back out of sensitive environments.

Peter Dowding, an industrial chemist not involved in the research, said: "The ability to remove the surfactant after it has been added widens the potential applications to environmentally sensitive areas like oil spill clean ups where in the past concerns have been raised."

The scientists confirmed the soap's properties by placing a magnet into a test tube filled with the new soap lying beneath a less dense organic solution.

Once the magnet was in the container, the iron-rich soap overcame both gravity and surface tension between the water and oil to reach the surface of the magnet.

There were several high-profile oil spills in 2011, but none will eclipse the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, where 4.9 million barrels of crude oil was leaked.

Posted by Claire Manning