Now, 'vacuum cleaner' that sucks up oil slicks

London, Nov 16 (ANI): It works just like any other vacuum cleaner, but instead of dust, this device sucks up oil.

Engineering students at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, have developed a device dubbed Mose that uses a combination of rotating brushes and suction to remove oil from the shore.

The vacuum cleaner-like device sprays bark or a synthetic absorbent material onto the oil. It then uses its rotating brushes to thoroughly mix the oil and bark together, to ensure as much of the spill is absorbed as possible.

"The brushes are curved in a way that when they apply the absorbent it is spread outwards from the centre, and when the brushes are reversed the material is directed to the centre of the device, so it can be removed by a vacuum," New Scientist quoted team member Arne Sigmund Skeie as saying.

What's more, while the device is sucking up oil, the rotating brushes also scrub the rocks to remove any last traces.

Mose - or Mechanical Oil spill Sanitation Equipment - could also be used to clean up industrial oil spills or those from car accidents. (ANI)