Solvent Removal Research Articles

Facile Fabrication of Flexible Polymeric Membranes with Micro and Nano Apertures over Large Areas.

Freestanding, flexible and open through-hole polymeric micro- and nanostructured membranes were successfully fabricated over large areas (>16 cm2) via solvent removal of sacrificial scaffolds filled with polymer resin by spontaneous capillary flow. Most of the polymeric membranes were obtained through a rapid UV curing processes via cationic or free radical UV polymerisation. Free standing microstructured membranes were fabricated across a range of curable polymer materials, including: EBECRYL3708 (radical UV polymerisation), CUVR1534 (cationic UV polymerisation) UV lacquer, fluorinated perfluoropolyether urethane methacrylate UV resin (MD700), optical adhesive UV resin with high refractive index (NOA84) and medical adhesive UV resin (1161-M). The present method was also extended to make a thermal set polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes. The pore sizes for the as-fabricated membranes ranged from 100 µm down to 200 nm and membrane thickness could be varied from 100 µm down to 10 µm. Aspect ratios as high as 16.7 were achieved for the 100 µm thick membranes for pore diameters of approximately 6 µm. Wide-area and uniform, open through-hole 30 µm thick membranes with 15 µm pore size were fabricated over 44 × 44 mm2 areas. As an application example, arrays of Au nanodots and Pd nanodots, as small as 130 nm, were deposited on Si substrates using a nanoaperture polymer through-hole membrane as a stencil.

Incorporation of Functional Extraneous Cellulose in the Natural Fiber Welding Process

The efficient and non-derivatizing dissolution of natural biopolymers by ionic liquids (ILs) is poised to redefine the application of these ubiquitous and structurally robust materials on a grand industrial scale. In concert with this idea is Natural Fiber Welding (NFW), a technique which exploits the solvating properties of ionic liquids to partially dissociate the outer biopolymer layers in strands of fibrous thread, followed by solvent removal to collapse the structures in a reconfigured and entangled hydrogen bonding network. For cotton, this welding produces a layered motif of mesoporous cellulose atop a core of unmodified crystalline cellulose, creating a hierarchical structure which retains a semblance of the native biomaterial. Aggressive welding conditions increase the thickness and surface area of the mesoporous layer, though excessive welding leads to full dissolution of the crystalline core creating a tradeoff between an increase in surface area with loss of product integrity. In the present work, we seek to subvert aggressive welding conditions by supplementing dissolved cellulose as an additive in the welding solution. We will demonstrate how this extraneous cellulose can coat and weld to the underlying cotton substrate to increase the size of the amorphous shell around the crystalline core and, ultimately, bolster the mesoporous network and enhance the overall surface area. In addition, we will discuss how Raman-sensitive functionalization can be used to identify inclusion depth of the extraneous material and as a way to probe the potential for layer-by-layer deposition of functional cellulose during the NFW process.

Modeling and simulation of solvent behavior and temperature distribution within long stick propellants with large web thickness undergoing drying

Drying is a complicated physical process which involves simultaneous heat and mass transfer in the removal of solvents inside propellants. Inappropriate drying techniques may result in the formation of a hard skin layer near the surface to block the free access of most solvent through for long stick propellants with large web thickness, which lead to lower drying efficiency and worse drying quality. This study aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of drying process and clarify the mechanism of the blocked layer near the propellant surface. A new three-dimensional coupled heat and mass transfer (3D-CHMT) model was successfully developed under transient conditions. The drying experiment results show that the 3D-CHMT model could be applied to describe the drying process well since the relative error of the content of solvent between simulation and experiment values is only 5.5%. The solvent behavior simulation demonstrates that the mass transfer process can be divided into super-fast (SF) and subsequent minor-fast (MF) stages, and the SF stage is vital to the prevention of the blocked layer against the free access for solvent molecules inside propellant grains. The effective solvent diffusion coefficient (Deff) of the propellant surface initially increases from 3.4 × 10−6 to 5.3 × 10−6 m2/s as the temperature increases, and then decreases to 4.1 × 10−8 m2/s at 60–100 min. The value of Deff of surface between 0–1.4 mm has a unique trend of change compared with other regions, and it is much lower than that of the internal at 100 min under simulation conditions. Meanwhile, the temperature of the propellant surface increases rapidly at the SF stage (0–100 min) and then very slowly thereafter. Both the evolution of Deff and temperature distribution demonstrate that the blocked layer near the propellant surface has been formed in the time period of approximately 0–100 min and its thickness is about 1.4 mm. To mitigate the formation of blocked layer and improve its drying quality of finial propellant products effectively, it should be initially dried at lower drying temperature (30–40 °C) in 0–100 min and then dried at higher drying temperature (50–60 °C) to reduce drying time for later drying process in double base gun propellants. The present results can provide theoretical guidance for drying process and optimization of drying parameters for long stick propellants with large web thickness.

Hybrid Benzimidazole-Dichloroimidazole Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks Based on ZIF-7 and Their Application in Mixed Matrix Membranes for CO2/N2 Separation.

Mixed-linker zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with the sodalite (sod) topology type and based on ZIF-7 have been prepared by direct synthesis from the mixtures of benzimidazole (BzIm) and 4,5-dichloroimidazole (dcIm). Incorporation of dcIm into the ZIF-7 structure gives ZIF-7/COK-17 hybrids with rhombohedral symmetry that do not show the “open-to-closed form” structural transition upon solvent removal exhibited by ZIF-7. They show Type I isotherms for low molecular weight gases and high affinity for CO2 even at low partial pressures. Synthesis under mild conditions gives ZIF nanoparticles (250–400 nm) suitable for incorporation into mixed matrix membranes (MMMs): these were prepared with both glassy (Matrimid) and rubbery (PEBAX 1657) polymers. Permeation tests at 298 K and 1.2 bar reveal that the incorporation of Zn(BzIm0.55dcIm0.45)2 nanoparticles at up to ca. 12 wt % gives defect-free membranes with enhanced CO2 permeability in both polymer matrices, with retention of selectivity (Matrimid) or with an enhancement in selectivity that is most pronounced for the smaller nanoparticles (PEBAX). The membrane with the best performance exhibits a selectivity of ca. 200 for CO2/N2 (a 4-fold increase compared to the pure polymer) and a CO2 permeability of 64 Barrer. At the relatively low loadings investigated, the MMMs’ performance obeys the Maxwell model, and the intrinsic property of diffusivity of the ZIFs can be extracted as a result.

Blade-coated inverted perovskite solar cells in an ambient environment

To make the jump from laboratories to commercial production for perovskite solar cells, it is necessary to develop devices in an ambient environment using materials and methods that can be scalable. Here, blade coating followed by vacuum quenching is used to manufacture the FACs-based perovskite solar cells with the additive of MACl under an ambient environment (30%–57% RH), where FA is formamidinium and MA is methylammonium. The vacuum allows quick removal of solvent to initiate the nucleation process and create the intermediate phase. To control the nucleation and crystallization, the additive MACl is utilized to manipulate the intermediate phase. Besides perovskites, another key component is the hole transport material. Although nickel oxide exhibits good photostability and can be scalable for the inverted device architecture, the main drawback is low cell efficiency. This work solves it by tuning the cation ratio of Pb 2+ to A + and light soaking, achieving a champion efficiency of 19.5%. The encapsulated solar cells exhibit long-term photostability, maintaining 96% of their original efficiency and 91.5% of their maximum efficiency over 648 h under one sun at 45°C and 50%–60% relative humidity. This work demonstrates an economical and highly scalable process, promising for commercial-scale manufacturing. Highly scalable FACs-based perovskite solar cells with additive of MACl are developed. Perovskite film is blade coated in air, assisted by vacuum quenching. The substrate also needs to be scalable with a low price, so hot spray prepared NiOx is the choice. We overcome its drawback of low open-circuit voltage by tuning the Pb-A ratio and light soaking, achieving efficiency close to 20%. • Blade coating and vacuum-assisted method for making perovskite solar cells in air. • MACl is used to manipulate the intermediate phase during vacuum-assisted method. • Open-circuit voltage is improved by tuning organic cation/Pb ratio on NiOx. • Carrier lifetime at NiOx/perovskite interface becomes longer after light soaking.

Studies on the anthelmintic activity of <i>Tagetus patula</i> on common poultry worms<i> Ascaridia galli</i> and <i>Heterakis gallinae</i>

Fresh petals of T. patula locally known as “Genda” was dired in shade and grind to obtain fine powder. This powder is subjected to extraction in soxhlet apparatus using alcohol as solvent for 20-24 hrs. The greasy mass obtained after the coplete removal of solvent is diluted to prepare different concentration i.e. 2%, 4% and 6% and tested for in vitro anthelmintic activity. 2% extract caused mortality in A. galli after an exposure of 12 hrs. and in H. gallinae after 10 hrs. At 6% concentration mortality was observed after 8 and 7 hrs. respectively in A. galli and H. gallinae. The effect of the extract was also examined on glucose uptake, glycogen contents, lactic acid production, acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterases and cholinesterase activity to find out the possible mode of action of the extract.

Improving the Molecular Packing Order and Vertical Phase Separation of the P3HT:O-IDTBR Blend by Extending the Crystallization Period of O-IDTBR.

The morphology with strong molecular packing order and gradient vertical composition distribution associated with efficient charge transport and collection is critical to achieve high performance in nonfullerene solar cells. However, the rapid solidification process of the active layer upon the fast removal of solvent usually results in a kinetically trapped state with undesired morphology. Herein, we proposed a strategy to extend the crystal growth time of the acceptor via a high-boiling-point additive that selectively dissolved the acceptor. This was enabled by adding dibenzyl ether (DBE) to the poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):O-IDTBR blend in chlorobenzene (CB) solution. The combination of the kinetic study by time-resolved ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra and detailed morphological characterization allows us to correlate the crystallization kinetics with the microstructural transition. The results show that the crystal growth time of O-IDTBR increases from 3 to 60 s upon the addition of 0.75% DBE, leading to further evolution of the molecular order of O-IDTBR during the DBE-dominated drying period. Meanwhile, O-IDTBR has more time to migrate toward the substrate owing to the larger surface energy. In addition, the onset of the crystallization process of P3HT is brought forward from 8 to 6 s due to the reduced solvent quality, which favors P3HT to crystallize into a fibril network. As a result, an optimized morphology that features the enhanced molecular packing order of P3HT and O-IDTBR as well as the vertical compositional gradient of O-IDTBR is obtained. Devices based on the optimized blend show more balanced charge transport and suppressed bimolecular recombination, giving rise to an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 4.29 ± 0.04 to 7.30 ± 0.12%.

Removal of organic solvents from contaminated water surface through a fatty acid grafted polyvinyl alcohol based organogel

AbstractToxic organic solvents are constantly being cast out causing serious issues to the environment. In this work, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)‐based organogel has been prepared by modification with a long‐chain fatty acid via condensation method without the use of any cross‐linker. Organogel or the semi‐solid material has been used as a sorbent for solvent absorption from the polluted water surface. The prepared organogel was characterized by Fourier Transform‐Infrared Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Wide‐Angle X‐Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Thermogravimetric Analysis while contact angle measurements were also performed. The gel was used as a sorbent for the absorption of organic solvents. The swelling ratio was examined and exhibited absorption performance of 534% with reusable and retention properties. Experiments were performed to find the maximum absorption capacity at 875.5 (g/g), establishing kinetics of second order reaction. The gel can be extracted by scooping after absorption. Thus, making it an effective and ideal material for the removal of a wide array of organic solvents.

PH-responsive nonwoven fabric with reversibly wettability for controllable oil-water separation and heavy metal removal

Removal of organic solvents and heavy metals in effluents is of great significance to environmental pollution control and ecological civilization construction. pH-responsive materials have unique advantages in treating complicated oily wastewater. In this work, an intelligent pH-responsive nonwoven fabric with excellent reversible wettability was prepared. The pH-sensitive polymer was synthesized by free radical polymerization (FRP) technique, then dipped with SiO2 on PP fabric. The particular molecular structure of poly (dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) enabled the fabric surface to switch wettability rapidly between hydrophilic/underwater oleophobic and oleophobic/hydrophobic under pH stimulus and exhibit controllable selective separation of various oil/water mixtures. Furthermore, the fabric removed Pb2+ efficiently under a wide pH range. The experimetal results showed that the separation flux reached 19,229 ± 1656.43 L-h−1-m−2 for water and 19,342 ± 1796.77 L-m−2-h−1 for n-hexane. Besides, the obtained fabric effectively realized the separation and collection process of complex ternary mixtures. The fabric removed Pb2+ in solutions with efficiency up to 90.83%. After immersing in acid and alkali solutions for 24 h, no significant damage to the surface wettability. This economical and intelligent fabric is able to meet the different separation purposes of industrial wastewaters with complex compositions.

Effect of Solvent Removal Rate and Annealing on the Interface Properties in a Blend of a Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Polymer with Fullerene

We study the effect of solvent-free annealing and explicit solvent evaporation protocols in classical molecular dynamics simulations on the interface properties of a blend of a diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) polymer with conjugated substituents (DPP2Py2T) and PCBM[60]. We specifically analyze the intramolecular segmental mobility of the different polymer building blocks as well as intermolecular radial and angular distribution functions between donor and acceptor. The annealing simulations reveal an increase of the glass-transition temperature of 45 K in the polymer–fullerene blend compared to that of pure DPP2Py2T. Our results show that the effective solvent evaporation rates at room temperature only have a minor influence on the segmental mobility and intermolecular orientation, characterized in all cases by a preferential arrangement of PCBM[60] close to the electron-donating substituents in DPP2Py2T. In contrast, solvent-free annealing from a liquid yields clustering of the fullerene close to the electron-withdrawing DPP, generally considered to be detrimental for application in organic solar cells. We find that the difference can be attributed to differences in the behavior of 2-hexyldecyl side-chains, which collapse toward DPP when solvent is explicitly removed, thereby blocking access of PCBM[60].

Novel polycaprolactone (PCL)-type I collagen core-shell electrospun nanofibers for wound healing applications.

Type I collagen (Col_1) is one of the main proteins present in the skin extracellular matrix, serving as support for skin regeneration and maturation in its granulation stage. Electrospun materials have been intensively studied as the next generation of skin wound dressing mainly due to their high surface area and fibrous porosity. However, the electrospinning of collagen-based solutions causes degradation of its structure. In this work, a coaxial electrospinning process was proposed to overcome this limitation. The production of mats of polycaprolactone (PCL)-Col_1/PVA (collagen/poly(vinyl alcohol)) composed of core-shell nanofibers was investigated. PCL solution was used as the core solution, while Col_1/PVA was used as the shell solution. PVA was used to improve the processability of collagen, while PCL was employed to improve the mechanical properties and morphology of Col_1/PVA fibers. The morphology and the cytotoxicity of the fibers were highly dependent on the processing parameters. Defect-free core-shell nanofibers were obtained with a shell/core flow rates ratio=4, flight distance of 12 cm, and an applied voltage of 16 kV. Using this strategy, the triple helix structure characteristic of the collagen molecule was preserved. Moreover, the common post-processing of solvent removal could be suppressed, simplifying the manufacturing processing of these biomaterials. The nanostructured mats showed no cytotoxicity, high liquid absorption, structural stability, hydrophilic character, and collagen release capacity, making them a potential novel dressing for skin damage regeneration, in special in the case of chronic wounds treatment, in which exogenous collagen delivery is necessary.

Removal of organic solvents and oils from wastewater by absorption with crosslinked poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) modified by cetyl alcohol

In this first investigation on the oil absorption capacity of poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), a novel crosslinked poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) based absorbent was prepared by the grafting of maleic anhydride (MA) and cetyl alcohol (CA) in the presence of benzoyl peroxide (BP). Although EVA has been widely used in various applications like drug delivery, encapsulation, and footwear industry, however, its application in environmental remediation has not been studied in detail. In this study, melt mixing was carried out in the Brabender mixture at 120 °C. The grafted polymer was post-cured in the hot air oven at 100 °C for 24 h. The post-cured sorbent showed excellent absorption capacity in toluene (2200 %), gasoline (1720 %), crude oil (1105 %), and kerosene (390 %). The contact angle measurement reveals its hydrophobic nature (123°). The absorption properties of this hydrophobic composite remain stable even after 10 absorption/desorption cycles with absorption capacity remaining constant. The crosslinked polymer was characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, and SEM.

Towards a better recycling of lithium‐ion batteries – Removal and recovery of electrolyte solvents from shredded cells

Towards a better recycling of lithium‐ion batteries – Removal and recovery of electrolyte solvents from shredded cells

Non-equilibrium heat exchange and multi-coupled nature of mass transfer in solvent removal of propellant grains

In-depth knowledge of the heat and mass transfer mechanisms in removing the solvent of the propellant grains is crucial for optimizing process conditions as well as obtaining quality products. In this regard, this work developed an industrial-scale fixed bed test system used to study the solvent removal nature of the propellant grains. A transient model for predicting the non-equilibrium heat exchange and the solvent vaporization coupled with the adsorption of the water vapor was proposed as well. Results showed that the developed model could predict the hot air convection of the propellant grains, and the maximum relative deviation of the simulated results and the test data was 9.1%. In addition, the local profiles of the solvents mass fraction in the fixed bed had a non-uniformity in the early stage of the solvent removal, but it tended to be uniform as time went on. The propellant grains in the bottom region of the fixed bed have higher water content than that in other regions at the end of the solvent removal. The temperature of the propellant grains gradually increased due to the convective heat exchange, which led to the thermal non-equilibrium between the hot air and the propellant grains degraded.

A comparison of mixture and separated-phase models of heat transfer in a stationary wet granular bed

Solvent removal by thermal drying of granular mixtures is encountered in many industrial operations. A mixture model that treats the granular solid and the liquid solvent along with any interstitial gas phase as a single phase, is a useful first approximation to estimate the time required to heat the system to the wet-bulb temperature at which the solvent starts to vaporize. An analytical solution for the transient, axisymmetric temperature distribution in a stationary wet granular mixture in a heated cylindrical vessel is developed as an approximation to the typical geometry of an industrial dryer . Besides being a good first approximation to obtain an order-of-magnitude estimate of the heating time, the analytical solution serves as an excellent verification case for numerical simulations. A parametric study to assess the effect of fill height and wall temperature on the heating time is performed. Before analyzing the mass transfer aspects of the drying phenomena, it is critical to understand the fundamentals of interphase heat transfer in multiphase mixtures that can be found in such assemblies. Therefore, a 0-D separated-phase (multiphase) heat transfer model is developed to account for the effect of interphase heat transfer in the prediction of heating time of wet granular mixtures in cylindrical vessels. The 0-D model is extended to 3-D simulations using a newly developed OpenFOAM solver with multiphase heat transfer capability. The same problem that was solved using the analytical solution is solved using the 0-D model, and in 3-D using the newly developed OpenFOAM solver, to study the effect of interphase heat transfer on the prediction of heating time. It was found that inclusion of interphase heat transfer in the heat diffusion equations has a significant impact on the predictions of heating time. Further analysis of the problem results in the identification of the non-dimensional thermal interphase transfer number that determines the conditions under which a mixture model can be used in place of a separated phase model in problems involving heat transfer.

Multi-coupled mass transfer mechanisms during solvent removal of nitrocellulose-based propellant

This work has designed and developed an industrial-scale experiment system for studying the multi-coupled mass transfer mechanisms included in the solvent removal of the propellant grains. In this respect, the propellant grains were subjected to hot air convection for two hours at a temperature of 40.0°C and relative humidity of 85.0%, of which the mass flow rate was 595.0 kg·h−1 (or 720.0 kg·h−1). The measured data of the transient solvent content were analyzed based on the nonlinear least-squares regression. A slop method was used to predict the effective diffusivity of the solvents held in the propellant grains. In addition, the adsorption kinetics behavior and the mechanism of the propellant grains to the water vapor were studied in detail. As a result, both the vaporization of the solvents as well as the adsorption of the water vapor appeared on the surface of the propellant grains at the same time. The ethanol inside the propellant grains has a greater effective diffusivity compared to ether. The mass transfer in the solvent removal of the propellant grains was controlled by both the internal and external resistances. Moreover, the adsorption of the propellant grains to the water vapor was dominated by physical adsorption.

Robust polymer foams from 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose: Fabrication, stability, and chemical functionalization

We describe the fabrication of polymer foams from aqueous solutions of 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), using freezing-induced phase-separation and solvent removal methods. Freezing aqueous solutions of HEC produced 3D polymer networks by a mechanism involving polymer exclusion from ice crystals and concentration at grain boundaries. This phase-separation is viewed as a kinetically controlled process, with properties of the resultant foams reliant on the processing temperatures and other conditions employed. Specifically, HEC foams were obtained by removal of the ice phase either by lyophilization or solvent exchange techniques. The morphology and pore characteristics of the resultant foams were visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which showed fibrillar and flake-like polymer material embedded in an open-cell porous structure. Foam density and stiffness increased as a function of the initial HEC concentration employed, while the mechanical integrity of the resultant foams was improved by crosslinking with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) or maleic anhydride (MA). Such crosslinking successfully enabled liquid water sorption into the foams without loss of structural integrity, thus providing opportunities for further incorporation of chemical moieties. Dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) was employed to assess water uptake into the HEC foams, which was generally greater for foams produced by lyophilization, and in all cases exceeded that achieved by conventional, commercially available cellulose foams.

Recent advancements of photo- and electro-active hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks

The development of hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) with predictable topologies and robust structures for targeted functionality was initially hindered by the relatively weak H-bonding interactions as many HOFs would collapse upon guest solvent removal. Recently, the design of tectons with large π-conjugated systems that form intermolecular shape-fitted π–π stacking interactions has proven to be an effective strategy to create chemically and thermally stable HOFs. More importantly, these HOFs with large π-conjugated tectons exhibit accelerated redox hopping processes due to more favorable through-space orbital overlap interactions. These intrinsic photoelectric properties render HOFs an appealing and unique class of photoactive and electroactive porous materials for catalysis, sensing, and biomedical applications. Based on shape-fitted π–π stacking strategy, various robust photoactive and electroactive HOFs have been built from tectons containing both photosensitive or redox-active organic cores and hydrogen bonding sites. This review summarizes the recent advancements, including synthetic methods and diverse applications, in the development of photo- and electro-active HOFs. Considering the numerous photo- and electro-active organic units available, as well as the virtually unlimited potential combinations of organic cores and hydrogen bonding sites, we anticipate that this review will inspire scientists in a range of disciplines, ranging from porous materials to organic photoelectric materials and catalysis scientists, to further explore functional photo- and electro-active HOF materials.

Synthesis of biowaste derived ultra-light spongy material for the studies of effective removal of oil, organic solvent and selective dye pollutant from waste stream

The development of highly efficient absorbent material has great ecological importance for the removal of oils, organic solvents and organic pollutants from industrial and domestic effluents. In this article, we developed waste tea powder (WTP) derived spongy graphene composite (sG-WTP) and applied it to separate oil, organic solvent and organic pollutants from their water mixtures. We prepared sG-WTP from waste tea powder, graphene oxide (GO), and natural rubber latex using a simple one-pot hydrothermal method as-prepared sG-WTP composite is hydrophobic/oleophilic in nature, eco-friendly, and absorb a high amount of oil (Diesel) 51.09 g/g and organic solvent (Chloroform) 63.51 g/g sG-WTP showed excellent result toward the removal of organic pollutants, such as methylene blue MB (50 ppm), within 30 min. It was able to selectively adsorbed brilliant green in the presence of acid orange. The oil, organic solvents absorption and dye adsorption capacity of as synthesized sG-WTP was sustained up to 85, 92 and 95% after 10 consecutive cycles, suggesting that it has excellent recyclable performance. The high efficiency and recyclability of sG-WTP spongy composite for the separation of oils/organic solvents and selective adsorption of organic pollutants from their water mixtures could be an ideal absorbent for different applications, including in oil spillage and organic solvents/pollutants clean up.

New Carbamates and Ureas: Comparative Ability to Gel Organic Solvents

Two series of novel amphiphilic compounds were synthesized based on carbamates and ureas structures, using a modification of the synthesis methods reported by bibliography. The compounds were tested for organic solvent removal in a model wastewater. The lipophilic group of all compounds was a hexadecyl chain, while the hydrophilic substituent was changed with the same modifications in both series. The structures were confirmed by FT-IR, NMR, molecular dynamic simulation and HR-MS and their ability to gel organic solvents were compared. The SEM images showed the ureas had a greater ability to gel organic solvents than the carbamates and formed robust supramolecular networks, with surfaces of highly interwoven fibrillar spheres. The carbamates produced corrugated and smooth surfaces. The determination of the minimum gelation concentration demonstrated that a smaller quantity of the ureas (compared to the carbamates, measured as the weight percentage) was required to gel each solvent. This advantage of the ureas was attributed to their additional N-H bond, which is the only structural difference between the two types of compounds, and their structures were corroborated by molecular dynamic simulation. The formation of weak gels was demonstrated by rheological characterization, and they demonstrated to be good candidates for the removal organic solvents.