Molecular recognition membranes

Cyclodextrins (CDs) have special properties to give supramolecular complexes. These compounds consisting solely of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen atoms are cyclic oligosaccharides. They have helped to develop the supramolecular chemistry pathway that lies at the interface of organic synthesis, physicochemistry and chemistry-biology, and whose field has grown exponentially in recent decades. The aim of this work is to develop new cyclodextrin-based affinity membrane materials for membrane-assisted selective liquid-liquid extraction (pertraction). Membranes have been prepared by grafting or trapping CDs (alpha and beta-CDs) in a polyvinyl alcohol polymer matrix.