New technology developed at UNT uses biomass to quickly, cost-effectively clean up toxic spills

Sheldon Shi, professor of mechanical and energy engineering at UNT, has developed a cost-effective way to rapidly clean up spills and contamination in water and other surfaces. By using magnetized activated carbon — or MAC, made from biomass — and a magnetized collection device, the contaminant is quickly absorbed and then removed with magnets. The technology — licensed to EnviroMAC, a startup company formed around commercializing the new method — has the potential to make a tremendous impact on the toxic cleanup industry.