Guar Gum: Superabsorbent Hydrogels for Dye Remediation

Hydrogels are 3-dimensional polymeric network structures that can absorb a large amount of water. The hydrogels possess remarkable hydrophilic characteristics, biocompatibility, and a high swelling ratio making them versatile in various applications. Guar gum biopolymer derived from guar beans showed hydrogel characteristics and can be modified by derivatization, copolymerization, crosslinking, and composite formation. Superabsorbent hydrogels made from guar gum have numerous applications across various industries such as agriculture for water retention in soil, drug delivery carriers, metal ion removal sorbents, dye adsorbents, environmental applications, and wastewater treatment. Dye plays an important role in water pollution. Various methods reported to remove dyes from waste water but among all the method adsorption is the best method. The use of guar gum-based superabsorbent hydrogels not only reduces waste but also promotes the development of ecofriendly and resource-efficient materials. This review mainly focuses on the properties of guar gum biopolymer, its modifications and its employability in various separation and enrichment techniques.