A gel adsorbent material composed of a polymer hydrogelator and activated carbon

Abstract

A composite gel adsorbent was formed by simply mixing a polymer hydrogelator and an adsorbent material, activated carbon. The composite materials retained the thixotropic properties, and activated carbon was uniformly dispersed in the composite gel. Since functional particles such as activated carbon show the ability to subdivide and strengthen the fibre structure of this hydrogel, this hydrogel may be able to form a functional gel material composited with other functional particles. In practice, the composite gel could adsorb dyes, owing to the presence of activated carbon, without damaging the gel state in brine.