How does a paper towel absorb water?
Actually I did an experiment to test paper towel as an absorbent. I did the measurements as gram of solvent absorbed / gram of paper towel, this way I could compare other materials on a g/g basis. After 10 minutes of immersion I removed the towel from the liquid. The results were paper towel absorbed water, motor oil and vegetable oil exactly the same amount 15g/g of paper towel. Since vegetable oil, and motor oil are hydrophobic and and water is hydrophillic, I believe how paper towel absorbs water is not just due to OH affinity for polar compounds from the cellulose. Think about it. If you spill vegetable oil (hydrophobic liquid) on the counter and wipe it up with paper towel it will not be repelled, it will get sucked into the towel. Therefore I hypothesize that it is more a function of physical porosity of the towel fibers. They allow liquids to move through via diffusion because of a difference in concentration outside and the inside. And not due to this like dissolves like phenom
