Analytical and related applications of organogels

Recent advances in the chemistry of organogels include development of guidelines which allow for the formation of organogels from other types of surfactants or polymers, establishment of protocols which allow for better incorporation of guest solutes into lecithin gels, and better insight into the partitioning and transport behavior of solutes in such organogel assemblies. In addition, recent work demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing organogels (or thin films formed from them) for the efficient physical immobilization of enzymes for use in the enantioselective synthesis of organic compounds, analytical and preparative scale resolution of optical isomers as well as for the detoxification of aqueous water streams. Native organogels can be employed for the purification of apolar organic solvents.