Scientists working on developing inexpensive materials that can purify water quickly have been working with an insoluble polymer called β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)—a big loop of linked sugar molecules. Recently, they've discovered a way to cross-link β-CD using aromatic groups forming a porous, cross-linked complex. The porous, cross-linked β-CD has an increased surface area that significantly speeds the removal of pollutants. The scientists also explored the ability to reuse the material. They found that BPA could be easily removed from the material by rinsing the polymer in methanol at room temperature. They repeated the process five times and saw negligible decrease in performance compared to freshly synthesized polymer. Finally, this polymer can be sold at a comparable or cheaper price than the current activated carbon adsorbents (which also act slowly and could be difficult to reuse). http://arstechnica.co.uk/science/2016/01/reusable-sugar-based-polymer-purifies-water-fast/
