Low-molecular-weight organogelators as functional materials for oil spill remediation

Abstract

Oil spills from tankers are one of the major types of man-made disasters that impact the marine environment, and they have been shown to have long-lasting effects. On prevention of the spread of oil through rapid cleanup of spills, low-molecular-weight organogelators have received much attention because of their ability to tune their properties through rational design. In this mini-review, I present a brief summary of studies focused on the remediation of oil spills via a chemical method, which involves the use of low-molecular-weight organogelators that form organogels with fuel oils or organic solvents. Moreover, recent attempts to create new improved molecular organogels composed of commercially available simple organogelators via a mixing induced enhancement method for solidifying oil are also discussed. In addition, polymer organogelators for oil spills are discussed in relation to low-molecular weight gelators.

Boron Effect on Sugar‐Based Organogelators

“…The preparation of gels with low-molecular-weight gelators is possible thanks to weak intermolecular interactions such as van der Waals interactions, p-p interactions, hydrogen bonding or electrostatic interactions. [1] The corresponding self-assembly turns aqueous or organic solutions into hydrogels or organogels, respectively.T his important area of research provides soft materials that find varioust ypes of applicationi no il remediation, [2] nanotube formation, [3] drug delivery [4] or sensitive materials. [5] Typical gelatorsa re based on sugars,l ipids, peptides and aromatics, which usually provide the required weak interactions.…”

Hexadecyl-Containing Organic Salts as Novel Organogelators for Ionic, Eutectic, and Molecular Liquids

“…The self-assembly of liquids into gels, that is, solid-like structures that possess some fluidity within the solid network, presents an interesting, intriguing, and useful paradigm. 1−3 Gel-based systems have shown to be viable for various catalytic, energy-related, and environmental processes. 1−3 Although numerous types of molecules (e.g., small molecule, oligomer, polymer, inorganic materials, etc.)…”

Smart Materials for Environmental Remediation Based on Two-Component Gels: Room-Temperature-Phase-Selective Gelation for the Removal of Organic Pollutants Including Nitrobenzene/O-Dichlorobenzene, and Dye Molecules from the Wastewater

“…Polymeric solidifiers cannot be mixed easily with organic pollutants, and the recovery of organic liquid from polymer gels is troublesome. Nowadays, the study of phase-selective gelation towards toxic organic liquids has become a hot topic [19–22]. For example, the first example of phase-selective gelator (PSG) was found by Bhattacharya and Krishnan-Ghosh with amino acid amphiphiles [23].…”