I think maybe this idea has floated around (no pun intended). There's a nice demo for teachers here : http://www.cmu.edu/gelfand/k12-teachers/polymers/polymer-a

I think maybe this idea has floated around (no pun intended). There's a nice demo for teachers here : http://www.cmu.edu/gelfand/k12-teachers/polymers/polymer-and-absorption/oil-spill-cleanup.html http://www.cmu.edu/gelfand/k12-teachers/polymers/polymer-and... Ironically the plastic was polypropylene there too.