Cleaning Water with Oil: Inexpensive and Energy-Efficient

By Thomas R. Burton, III

While completing his Ph.D. at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2008, Anurag Bajpayee discovered a simple chemical trick with vast potential—he found that a certain class of oils can remove contaminants from water. Bajpayee’s discovery could be revolutionary, making the process of purifying water contaminated by cities, industries, and agricultural operations a cheap and energy-smart operation. Bajpayee’s work is featured in Scientific American’s article, “World Changing Ideas: 10 innovations that are radical enough to alter our lives.”1  For more on the article, check out SmartPlanet’s blog post by Laura Shin.

1Scientific American (December 2012), 307,  34-35. Published online: 13 November 2012 | doi: 10.1038/scientificamerican1212-34

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    Thomas R. Burton, III

    Thomas R. Burton, III

    Member / Chair, Sustainable Energy & Infrastructure Practice

    Thomas R. Burton, III, a Member at Mintz, has helped to shape the clean energy industry by drawing on his passion for innovation. Tom counsels investors, entrepreneurs, and Fortune 100 companies. He also guides startup organizations and accelerators to foster the next generation of energy leaders.