Riyadh: A Saudi engineer invented a biotechnology that could be used in cleaning up oil spills at land or sea.

"This substance in liquid form can decompose any fat into its smallest particles to get rid of it," inventor Ibrahim Alalim told Arab Times.

Alalim named the technology 'Al-Raheef' which means 'very elegant' in Arabic. He took over 12 years to develop the technology.

"Al-Raheef involves a liquid extract from vegetables that could be instrumental in coming up with products that would be useful in cleaning utensils, floors and marble," he said. He further added, "If you spray it on an oil spill, it breaks down its composition and the sea water will be cleaned. The broken down composition will sink to the seabed and spraying it on sand with an oil spill cracks the oil to smaller particles and sinks into the soil like water."

(IANS)