A strange strategy using human hair to stop the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has appeared

On April 30, 2010, a massive oil spill accident occurred due to the submergence of the oil drilling facility "Deepwater Horizon" operated by BP, a major UK oil company in the Gulf of Mexico, and various countermeasures are still being taken today .

However,An attempt to submerge huge containers and prevent runoffHowever, it seems that a situation that is quite difficult, such as methane which is in a crystalline state at low temperature ocean floor is packed in crude oil derivation part and fails.

Therefore, a volunteer organization in the United States is calling for cooperation to carry out a strange strategy of gathering drifted crude oil in a way that uses human hair.

Details are below.
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Currently, the American charity organizationMatter Of TrustIn order to make the adsorbent of the flowing out crude oil, we call for donation of natural fibers such as hair and fur to hair salons and barbershops of the whole world.

As you can see from the stickiness of the fat as you leave it without washing your head, the power to keep the hair oil is quite strong and there is the power to absorb the oil of 4 ~ 6 times its own weight. It is said that about 450 grams of hair are needed to suck up 1 gallon (about 3.7 liters) of oil.

The groupOil spill accident occurred off California in 2007However, it adsorbs crude oil in the same way and is improving its effect.

When sending it, it is necessary to prevent clips and other garbage from mixing in the collected hair.


I pack it in stockings like this and use it as adsorbent.



This idea was invented Phil Maccrowley, a hairdresser in Alabama, USA. Phil's in 1998Exxon Valdez oil spill accidentAt the time of seeing the image of oil-covered seal and sea otter on TV, "If the seals' fur picks up oil, I thought that the hair swept from this floor will suck up oil as well" I tested my wife's stockings packed with hair and I got a pretty good result.

Based on this idea, Mr. Phil says that the adsorption mat used for oil spill "OttiMat"We are currently managing the manufacturing company by themselves.