Highly recyclable surfactant-based supramolecular eutectogels for iodine removal

In this work, we screened several surfactants for their ability to harden Eutectic Mixtures. We found cetyldiethanolamine-N-oxide as the best candidate, which was able to form eutectogel in four eutectic mixtures. Characterization of the gels obtained in terms of thermal stability, rheology and gelation kinetics, showed a prominent influence of the nature of the hydrogen bonding accepting and donating components for the first two parameter and the other one, respectively. Then, we assessed the eutectogels for their ability to adsorb I2, as a model for its radioactive nuclides, from apolar solvent solutions. The best performing gel allowed fast and thorough removal of I2, over a broad range of initial concentrations. This gel displayed a maximum adsorption capacity of 280 mg/g, competitive with most gel-based sorbent reported in the literature for the adsorption of iodine. Interestingly, the eutectogel proved to be highly recyclable, it could be regenerated and reused without loss in performance.