Carbohydrate-supramolecular gels : adsorbents for chromium(VI) removal from wastewater.

Abstract Hypothesis To overcome the contamination of water by heavy metals the adsorption of the pollutant on gel phases is an attractive solution since gels are inexpensive, potentially highly efficient and form a distinct phase while allowing diffusion of the contaminated water throughout the material. This work tests the chromium(VI) adsorbent capacity of new supramolecular gels for Chromium(VI) removal from wastewater. Experiments First hydrophobic imidazolium salts of carbohydrate anions were synthesised as new gelators. Subsequently, they were dissolved in a solvent by heating and, after cooling overnight, to give the formation of supramolecular gels. The properties of the resulting g…