Supramolecular Gels for the Sensing and Extraction of Heavy Metal Ions from Wastewater

Removal of toxic metal ions from wastewater is crucial for the clean environment, aquatic life, and human health. Among several removal techniques, metal ion coordination induced gelation of low molecular weight organic ligand (gelators) and subsequent separation of the metal ions from gelators is a newer technique in this field. In the last decade, several gelator molecules have been developed for the sensing and removal of toxic metal ions from wastewater and may find potential application on the above purpose. This review article discusses all the recent developments on the uses of supramolecular gelators for the sensing and removal of heavy and toxic metal ions from wastewater.