Hi, I’m Micaela, a 15-year-old student from Mexico living in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur. I am currently finishing middle school and will be starting high school soon. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, staying active through exercise, and, of course, eating ice cream. I am curious about learning new things and exploring opportunities that can help make a positive impact in my community. Participating in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize has been an exciting experience that has allowed me to learn more about water-related challenges and develop new skills.
Contact WaterTank
Manager for Stockholm Junior Water Prize
Alia Baidoun
2026•Micaela Benitez López
OleoCatch: Recycled Fibers for Aquatic Hydrocarbon Capture
Oil pollution in aquatic ecosystems poses a threat to biodiversity, water quality, and economic activities associated with these environments. This project developed a sustainable alternative for removing surface oil using human hair and palm fiber, two low-cost and widely available organic waste materials. The methodology involved evaluating different proportions of both materials to determine their hydrocarbon adsorption capacity and selecting the most efficient combination for prototype design. The results showed that the mixture of human hair and palm fiber achieved 85% oil adsorption with low water retention, confirming its potential as an adsorbent. In addition to contributing to the reduction of pollution in aquatic ecosystems, the proposal promotes the circular economy by repurposing materials considered waste and offers scalability potential…
