Water purification using carbohydrate polymers

Researchers in ACS Central Science report a sugar-like polymer that traps heavy metals within insoluble clumps for easy removal. In proof-of-concept tests, the polymer removed ionic cadmium and lead from river water spiked with these persistent contaminants. The team constructed several polymers, each having a water-insoluble backbone with different water-soluble carbohydrates dangling from the repeating units like charms on a bracelet.