Targeted Sequestration

Targeted sequestration in chemistry refers to the deliberate and selective capture of specific molecules or ions from a heterogeneous mixture. This approach relies on the design of materials or molecules—often functionalized with active groups—that can recognize and bind to a target substance with high specificity. Targeted sequestration is used in areas like environmental remediation, sensing, purification, and carbon capture. The core principle is selective binding, where a material’s affinity and reactivity are tailored toward a specific chemical species, often using reversible or irreversible interactions such as hydrogen bonding or covalent bonding.

Silanes play a critical role in targeted sequestration due to their versatility in surface modification and functional group incorporation. Organosilanes can be engineered with reactive end groups, such as amines, thiols, or alkoxides, which anchor onto surfaces like silica, metals, or polymers, creating a stable platform for capturing target molecules.

Silicones, particularly polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), offer a versatile and robust platform for targetedsequestration due to their high gas permeability, chemical stability, and structural flexibility. In carbon capture, unmodified PDMS allows efficient gas diffusion but lacks selectivity for CO . This limitation is overcome by? functionalizing the membrane with reactive groups such as amines, which enable reversible CO binding through carbamate formation. Beyond carbon capture, silicone membranes are also used to selectively capture volatile organic compounds (VOCs), acid/base gases like ammonia or sulfur dioxide, heavy metal ions, and even biomedical molecules. These broader applications often involve further functionalization or the incorporation of selective fillers into composite systems. Their tunable surface chemistry and long-term durability make silicone membranes especially valuable for continuous separation processes across environmental, industrial, and medical fields.