Gel-Based Materials for Pollution Control and Remediation

Dear Colleagues,

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.

Therefore, this Special Issue covers the following topics:

• Polymer networks;
• Materials affinity;
• Swelling–deswelling mechanisms;
• Phase separation;
• Adsorption and diffusion mechanisms;
• Gels adsorbents;
• Multi-functional gels;
• Gels integrated with membrane functions;
• New trends in Gel synthesis and characterization;
• Experimental and theoretical investigations;
• The application of gels as adsorbents for the removal of hazardous organic, inorganic and biological pollutants;
• Gels for water conservation (superabsorbent hydrogels);
• Gel reusability and sustainability;
• Gels as sensors for different contaminants;
• Green gels as Carbon dioxide sensors.

Original articles, reviews and mini-reviews, and communications are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Manar Abdel-Raouf
Dr. Annarosa Gugliuzza
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.