Scientists have developed world’s first magnetic sap that could calm concerns over the use of soaps in oil-spill clean ups and revolutionise industrial cleaning products.
The soap, composed of iron rich salts dissolved in water, responds to a magnetic field when placed in solution.
Scientists have long been searching for a way to control soaps (or surfactants as they are known in industry) once they are in solution to increase their ability to dissolveoils in water and then remove them from a system.
The University of Bristol scientists behind the breakthrough have previously worked on soaps sensitive to light, carbon dioxide or change in pH, temperature or pressure.
The team led by professor Julian Eastoe produced their magnetic soap by dissolving iron in a range of inert surfactant materials composed of chloride and bromide ions, very similar to those found in every day mouthwash or fabric conditioner. The addition of the iron creates metallic centres within the soap particles.
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