Technological gel napkins absorb three times more liquid than paper

In an article published in the scientific journal SubjectIn December 2022, scientists presented a page gel Up to three times more absorbent than paper towels. The innovation is being developed for use in kitchens, operating rooms and other areas that need products to absorb liquids.

By combining the properties of paper towel and hydrogel, scientists have succeeded in creating a material that can absorb much more than conventional paper towels. A similar material had already been produced by that time, but it was brittle and broke easily.

One of the biggest differences of the new gel sheet is that they remain soft and supple even when dry. Researchers used different materials such as baking soda, acid, glycerol and ultraviolet light to create the material.

“We’ve rediscovered what a hydrogel looks like. “To our knowledge, it’s the first reported hydrogel with such tactile and mechanical properties,” said Srinivasa Raghavan, one of the study’s authors, from the University of Maryland in the United States. we are working.”

Gel sheet in application

In one test, they “dried” 25 ml of water with a gel layer that absorbs everything in just 20 seconds – the material also works well in thicker liquids like blood and other liquids a thousand times thicker than water. Meanwhile, a cloth towel has only absorbed 60% of the water and left a few drops on the surface.

Now, in addition to creating a version that will absorb oil, researchers must continue to study the material to optimize absorption and reduce the cost of gel sheets – the goal is to create reusable options.