Topuz, F.Uyar, Tamer2018-04-122018-04-122017-080304-3894http://hdl.handle.net/11693/37365Cyclodextrins (CDs) are sugar-based cyclic oligosaccharides, which form inclusion complexes with small guest molecules through their hydrophobic cavity. Here we successfully synthesized highly porous poly-cyclodextrin (poly-CD) cryogels, which were produced under cryogenic conditions by the cross-linking of amine-functional CDs with PEG-based diepoxide cross-linker. The poly-CD cryogels showed aligned porous network structures owing to the directional freezing of the matrix, of which the pore size and architecture exposed variations depending on the composition of the reactants. The cryogels were employed for the removal of genotoxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from aqueous solutions. They reached PAH sorption capacities as high as 1.25 mg PAH per gram cryogel. This high sorption performance is due to interactions between PAHs and the complete swollen network, and thus, is not restricted by interfacial adsorption. Given that the hydrophilic nature of the components, the sorption performance could only be attributed to the inclusion complex formation of CDs with PAH molecules. The poly-CD cryogels could be recycled with an exposure to ethanol and reused without any significant loss in the sorption capacity of PAHs.EnglishCryogelCyclodextrinPAHPoly-cyclodextrinWater remediationAdsorptionAromatic compoundsAromatic hydrocarbonsComplex networksCyclodextrinsHydrocarbonsHydrophobicityMoleculesPore sizeSolutionsSorptionAligned porous structuresCryogelsCyclic oligosaccharidesDirectional freezingInterfacial adsorptionPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS)Porous network structuresWater remediationPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsAnthraceneCyclodextrinFluorantheneFluorenePhenanthrenePolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonPyreneAdsorptionChemical compoundGelHydrophobicityPAHPollutant removalPolysaccharidePorous mediumToxic substanceWater treatmentAdsorptionAqueous solutionArticleComplex formationConjugationCross linkingCryogelHydrophilicityMolecular weightPorosityReduction (chemistry)SolubilityStructure analysisSynthesisWater contentWater treatmentArticle10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.04.022