Gel-Based Materials for Pollution Control and Remediation

In recent decades, climate changes and environmental pollution have resulted from different human activities, complicating the survival of the entire ecosystem. Scientists are working hard to lessen or prevent these dramatic changes through the removal of pollutants and hazardous compounds from the environment. Different purification approaches have been implemented in recent years, including precipitation, ion exchange, catalysis, conversion, micro and nano-filtration, and selective molecular separations. The adsorption technique is one of the most effective procedures to remove pollutants from surroundings. Sustainable materials with outstanding properties can be used as absorbers and vehicles for different pollutants. Among other systems, functional gels have proven to be effective candidates for the removal of different hazardous organic, inorganic and biological pollutants from the environment. The performance of gel adsorbents depends strongly on the constituents of the gels as well as the functions are strictly connected to the polymer networks of the gels. The powerful action of gels to adsorb can be successfully combined with an action of conversion and/or separation depending upon specific separation mechanisms, which can include adsorption-desorption, molecular recognition, catalytic conversion, affinity, stimuli responsiveness, molecular sieving, etc.