NEWS

We're thrilled to welcome our new Research Assistant- Andrew Inigo, a recent master’s graduate in Material Science from Carnegie Mellon University. Inigo brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to the table, eager to contribute to MFNS Tech's innovative spirit. We're confident that Inigo's fresh perspective and expertise will be invaluable assets as we continue our progress towards developing efficient, economical, and ecofriendly solutions for environmental challenges. Welcome to the team, Inigo! We're excited to see what you'll achieve!

We are excited to announce that MFNS Tech has been selected to be awarded the N. XT funding by Northwestern's Innovation and New Ventures Office (INVO). This funding will be used to accelerate our growth and development, and it is a testament to Northwestern University's commitment to supporting its entrepreneurs and fostering innovation.

MFNS Tech is grateful for the Northwestern University's support and excited to continue its growth.

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OHM Sponge underwent rigorous testing by the US Coast Guard (USCG RFI, "Government Evaluation of Sorbents for Oil Spill Response”, FAR 15.201). The recently released report classifies OHM Sponge as a Category I absorbent, showcasing its exceptional capability to absorb oil swiftly and effectively, exceeding industry standards. The report highlights: “It (OHM Sponge) showed very high selectivity for Hydrocal 300 and achieved maximum oil capacity within the first 15 minutes during the ASTM F726-17 test. It also had high oil adsorption values in static and mix-energy conditions with water.” This USCG report is more than just a technical evaluation; it's a powerful validation of OHM Sponge's potential as a superior oil spill response solution.

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MFNS Tech made a significant impact at the Clean Gulf Conference 2023 and exhibition, showcasing its latest OHM products and establishing valuable connections with industry leaders. The event provided an excellent platform for us to highlight its commitment to treating oil contaminated water and its expertise in sorbent and wastewater filtration media.

MFNS Tech is thrilled to announce that it has successfully raised a seed round funding from a group of esteemed investors led by Good Growth Capital. This significant milestone marks a pivotal moment in our journey, providing the necessary resources to propel its innovative OHM products to market.

MFNS Tech has been awarded the IL SBIR/STTR matching fund to support the development of OHM Technology. The funding was awarded through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), which provides matching funds to small businesses that have received federal SBIR/STTR Phase I awards. MFNS Tech is honored to receive this matching grant and it will be instrumental in helping in bridging us towards the SBIR/STTR Phase II award and also to accelerate our production and development efforts”.

OHM Media™ stands as a remarkable breakthrough, showcasing unparalleled performance when compared to conventional filtration media such as walnut shell, granulated activated carbon, and others. Its revolutionary capabilities redefine filtration standards, offering efficiency and effectiveness that outshine the limitations of traditional methods. Embrace the future of filtration with OHM Media™ and experience a new era of advanced and superior results.

As we continue our journey of innovation, we're thrilled to share that we're in the race for the prestigious NSF Phase II award. This coveted recognition would not only elevate our profile but also provide the resources needed to further refine our tech and expand its impact on a larger scale.

A resounding vote of confidence in our vision as we proudly announce the raising for the seed round for driving towards greater milestones. With our venture firm - Good Growth Capital (GGC) as the lead, we are raising a seed round of over a million funding. This infusion of capital not only validates the potential of OHM technology but also empowers us to amplify our efforts.

The research group led by our co-founder Prof. Vinayak Dravid has successfully developed a modified OHM Media that can filter our toxic metals like lead and cadmium from contaminated water. Preliminary experiments show that with one use, the OHM Media can remove heavy metal to below detectable levels.  

Our global footprint expands with the recent approval of a patent in India. This milestone not only safeguards our intellectual property but also signifies the international recognition of our innovation, setting the stage for further growth and success.

Triumph on the innovation front! MFNS Tech efforts has been recognized with a boost by STTR Phase I Matching Programs matching program by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. This acknowledgement serves as a testament to the value our innovations bring to the region and motivates us to continue pushing boundaries.

MFNS Tech has announced that it has successfully secured seed funding led by prominent venture capitalists- Good Growth Capital (GGC). The funding will allow the startup to expand its operations and accelerate its development.

Exciting times ahead as MFNS Tech takes a leap, settling into its innovative abode at Northwestern University InQbation space. This move will fuel our growth and inspire fresh waves of creativity as we embark on this new chapter.

EPA has approved OHM sponge under sorbent category as per the requirements listed in the NCP (National Contingency Plan)  product schedule. As OHM sponge fulfills the sorbent category, it has the eligibility to be used as a response agent in any event of oil spill in water.

MFNS is ready to tackle the challenge of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) in wastewater with OHM media. A pilot test will be conducted at a local food facility to showcase the effectiveness of ohm in pretreating the wastewater before discharge to local streams.

The MFNS team attended the 2022 NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Grantee’s Conference, where they were given the opportunity to share the latest advancements and exciting results from their OHM product line. With the theme of "Nanotechnology for the environment, society, and workforce development," this conference was the perfect platform for MFNS to showcase their cutting-edge innovations and demonstrate their commitment to making a positive impact on the world.

Check out the poster here

With the modulation in OHM coating, OHM media is now capable of sequestering heavy metals like Pb, Cd, Zn and Co from water.

The US Coast Guard has requested OHM sponge samples as part of their search for new and innovative Type I sorbents.

MFNS Tech has made the cut as one of the semi-finalists for the 21st annual Chicago Innovation Awards from a pool of 365 nominees! This prestigious award recognizes the most groundbreaking new products and services from across the Chicago region, encompassing all sizes, sectors, and industries of organizations.

MFNS takes a step forward in outreach efforts with the development of OHM sponge demo kits. These kits are designed to highlight the unique features of OHM sponge and raise awareness.

The OHM sponge has passed the stringent evaluation of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with flying colors. The certificate attests to the safety of using the OHM sponge in any instance of oil spillage in California's waterways.

Sheen from oil is known to be almost impossible to remove from water by current methods. Recent trials showed that OHM sponge due to its unique features takes up all the traces of oil and does not leach back to the water.

Can environmental remediation technology be effective, efficient, eco-friendly and yet ergonomic and economic? Professor Vinayak Dravid and his research group at Northwestern University have embarked on this crusade to provide “nanoscale” solution to the “giga-ton” problem of water pollution.

Billions of tons of plastic waste are piling up in landfills and waterways around the globe. Over time, this waste breaks down into micro- and nanoplastics that are easily ingested by aquatic animals and even find their way into people’s bloods and organs.

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The NSF STTR's Beat-the-Odds Boot Camp was an entrepreneurial training experience that utilized the customer discovery curriculum and methodologies employed in the highly-regarded NSF I-Corps™ Program.

The Environmental Protection Agency warned Wednesday that a group of human-made chemicals found in the drinking water, cosmetics and food packaging used by millions of Americans poses a greater danger to human health than regulators previously thought.

The Environmental Protection Agency is warning that two nonstick and stain-resistant compounds found in drinking water pose health risks even at levels so low they cannot currently be detected.

The Environmental Protection Agency stunned scientists and local officials across the country on Wednesday by releasing new health advisories for toxic "forever chemicals" known to be in thousands of U.S. drinking water systems, impacting potentially millions of people.

The Environmental Protection Agency released a new health advisory Wednesday for pervasive industrial "forever chemicals" in drinking water.

Twenty years ago it looked like MP3 players would be the final nail in the coffin when it came to vinyl records after years of falling sales compared to cassette tapes and CDs.

Billions of tons of plastic waste are degrading in landfills and waterways around the world.

Sponges similar to an ordinary kitchen or memory foam sponge may soon clean up oil spills, courtesy of Northwestern researchers.

With a sponge that looks like one you might find in your kitchen, Northwestern University researchers have discovered how to effectively clean up oil, microplastics and phosphate pollution.

A new coating applied to sponges can collect oil, phosphates and microplastics from polluted waters.

As billions of tons of plastic waste have accumulated in the environment and the fragments keep getting smaller, microplastics are getting even harder to remove.

We are delighted to announce that MFNS has received a National Science Foundation SBIR/STTR Phase 1 award in collaboration with Northwestern University. Congratulations to our co-founders Vikas Nandwana who will serve as a principal investigator and Vinayak Dravid whose lab will provide scientific support and guidance. With this funding, we will develop an environmental remediation platform for oil spills and related contaminants in water bodies.

MFNS Tech has been selected among the top 5 startups to watch in 2022 (out of 500+ worldwide) in the clean tech sector.

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For a fourth year, the Village of Glenview is recognizing local organizations that take the lead with environmental stewardship, innovative best practices and community outreach.

Vikas Nandwana (MFNS Tech) has been selected as a finalist in an elite deep tech accelerator program in US called Chain Reaction Innovation (CRI).

In this episode of the “Nano Matters” podcast, Vinayak Dravid, the Abraham Harris Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University, describes how he and his team have developed a nanotechnology-enabled sponge that could be used to clean up the environment.

Methods designed to remove oil from water can do more harm than good...

Researchers say reusable sponges that can sop up oil without absorbing water could make cleanup efforts more effective and more efficient.

OHM Skimmer Coating™ is a new coating material from MFNS. OHM Skimmer Coating™ can enhance the oil removal rate of belt skimmers while retaining the toughness of the belt. OHM Sponge Skimmer™ is a new belt skimmer which can clean Oil-Water emulsion/ Oil sheen with ease.

The Ohmsett Gazette newsletter is bi-annual newsletter providing readers with articles of testing, research, and training activities at the Ohmsett facility.

A decade after Deepwater Horizon, we’re still cleaning up oil spills the same way. MFNS Tech promises solution of the decade old oil spill clean-up prolem.

MFNS co-founders Prof. Vinayak David and Dr. Vikas Nandwana develop new technology to cleanup phosphate from polluted water. Highlighted in major news outlets New Atlas, Anthropocene, Science daily, Daily mail, Azo cleantech, TMJ4.

OHM Sponge was found to be highly effective in cleaning up oil even under very cold conditions.

MFNS has developed a new coating for skimmer belt which dramatically improves the oil absorption capacity of the belt skimmers.

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Ohmsett is a national test facility that provides independent performance testing of oil spill response solutions.

MFNS team arrives at New Jersey to test the performance of OHM Sponge in real life conditions mimicking rough sea.

MFNS team has been working towards producing large quantities of OHM Sponge via a highly scalable process. We are preparing hundreds of OHM Sponge sheets for large scale testing at OHMSETT facility.

MFNS team collaborated with a major soil remediation company to work on the cleaning oil from oil/soil/water mixture.

A Northwestern University-led team created the “OHM sponge,” which is able to soak up 30 times its weight in oil and be reused up to several dozen times. The coating allows any regular sponge to be easily turned into an oil-cleaning "smart sponge."

MFNS is developing OHM membrane which can address efficient and economically viable solution to cleanup produced water.

The annual list identifies researchers who demonstrated significant influence through the publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade.

The founder and former CEO of GCOM Software has joined a startup whose technology could change the way oil spills are cleaned up.

Human civilization has a waste problem, and it’s likely to get worse as population levels grow and a consumerist mentality becomes the global norm.

Interview starts at 18:58

“As long as fossil fuels are still in circulation, there will always be oil spills,” said Dravid. “We wanted to create a technology which can make cleaning oil spillages much easier and, more importantly, much cleaner and safer for the environment.”

Recent oil spills in Russia and Mauritius have shown that the industry still needs better methods for cleaning up accidents. Researchers are working on some unlikely-sounding solutions, including oil-absorbing wood chips, a solar-powered robot and a reusable sponge.

A team from Northwestern University has developed a highly porous smart sponge that can selectively soak up oil spills in water. With an ability to absorb more than 30 times its weight in oil...

A team funded by the National Science Foundation has developed a porous OHM sponge that selectively soaks up oil in water...

The words “sponges” and “cleanup” might evoke dirty dishes and kitchen duty. But to a team of materials scientists, they are the inspiration for a way to remediate aquatic oil spills.

A new ‘smart sponge’ designed to clean up oil spills in the ocean has been developed at Northwestern University, Illinois in the U.S....

The Northwestern solution bypasses these challenges by selectively absorbing oil and leaving clean water and unaffected marine life behind. The secret lies in a nanocomposite coating...

Although we've seen many materials designed for removing oil spills from water, many of them are single-use, ultimately ending up in landfills. Now, however, scientists have created an oil-absorbing sponge that can be used over and over again....