Trailblazers

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Eric Hoek is an associate professor at the UCLA School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.  In 2009 Professor Hoek started a research project at UCLA to evaluate technology designed by Ocean Therapy Solutions to see if it could treat oil-contaminated waters. 

Professor Hoek and his team developed strategies to enhance the technology’s performance, and it successfully removed 99.99% of oil-in-water emulsions.  The team also developed oil-tolerant membranes that can reduce the oil concentration in waters while maintaining productivity, stability, and energy efficiency. 

As a result of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that occurred in April 2010, there is an immediate need for rapid oil-water separation technology.  Professor Hoek has made several trips to the Gulf region and has been working to deploy prototype systems to assist in the containment and clean-up efforts.