Eutectogels for the selective capture of organic pollutants from water

The members of the D2 Department, “Macromolecular Chemistry and Materials” at ICGM, are a dynamic team of talented and passionate researchers, including polymer chemists, physical chemists, biologists, and pharmacists, all united by a strong team spirit. Our expertise lies in studying polymerization mechanisms and kinetics, developing environmentally friendly polymerization processes, characterizing polymers, and investigating polymer self-assembly. Our vision is to advance low environmental impact polymers and polymers for life sciences, thereby contributing to the emerging circular economy of materials while addressing major public health challenges. The team provides access to high-quality equipment for polymer synthesis (UV reactors, micro-wave reactors, autoclaves), and various characterisation methods used to investigate polymers: spectrocopy (FTIR, UV spectrometer), thermal analyses (TGA, DSC), separative techniques (GPC, GC, flash chromatography), mechanical and viscoelastic analyses (tensile testing, rheometers), surface characterisation (contact angle), particle analysis (DLS, etc.).

Ensuring access to clean water is one of the main objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Nowadays, organic pollutants (including dyes, phthalates, PFAS, etc.) originating from everyday household or industrial activities, are increasingly detected in aquatic environments. Even at low concentrations, these species can persist through conventional treatment and pose significant ecological and human-health risks. There is a strong need for sustainable materials capable of selectively capture such pollutants. Among traditional adsorbent materials (zeolites, silica matrices, polymer membranes, hydrogels, …), eutectogels have emerged as a promising new class of materials for decontamination of aqueous medium. Eutectogels are gel networks formed by deep eutectic solvents (DES), low melting point mixtures of hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor molecules (derived from e.g., amino acids, natural oils, organic salts, lignin, etc.). They offer high specific surface area, tunable hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance, and robust physico-chemical and mechanical stability under harsh conditions (pH, salinity, temperature), making them strong candidates for selective capture of organic pollutants. Initially developed for biomedical and electronic applications, eutectogels are still in the early-stage of pollutant removal materials.^1,2,3 The principal goal of this internship is to synthesize and characterize a library of eutectogels, modulating their physico-chemical properties in respect with the targeted contaminants, and to establish structure–property correlation for a wide plateau of pollutants.

References : 1. S. Marullo, A. Meli, N. Tz. Dintcheva, G. Infurna, C. Rizzo, F. D’Anna, ChemPlusChem., 2020, 85, 301. https://doi.org/10.1002/cplu.202000017; 2. L. Chen, S. Liao, D. Yu, L. Li, T. Mu, Z. Xue, Separation and Purification Technology, 2023, 308, 122903. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4273737; 3. E. Gabirondo, J. M. M. Araujo, A. B. Pereiro, L. C. Tomé, ChemSusChem., 2025, 18, e202500307. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202500307.

We are looking for a candidate with a strong background in polymer synthesis/modification and characterisation methods, interested in polymers and materials for environmental applications. Knowledge in one/more of the following aspects is considered an asset (synthesis of monomers /purification ; preparation/characterisation of polymer-based gels ; techniques to characterise nanoparticles : DLS, NTA). We value a motivated candidate who demonstrates autonomy and rigorous planning of laboratory experiments, with the ability to analyze, synthesize and present the results on a regular basis (e.g., during project meetings). Good written and spoken English is highly appreciated.