Produced Water Absorbents (PWA), a company based in Wooster, Ohio, USA has won a $500,000 grant from the US National Science Foundation, to develop technology for recycling production and frac waters, using an absorbent glass material.

The system can remove nearly all dispersed and soluble hydrocarbons from the water streams, so the water can be used again.

The company will use the funding to develop the materials so the pore structures are the ideal size for oil industry use.