Recent years water contamination by oil and oil spill in sea are the major disasters impacting the living conditions of human beings and marine environments. Phase selective gelators are providing novel choices for oil spill remediation due to their properties of simple synthesis

environmental compatibility

efficiency and reusability. In this review

firstly

classification and self-assembly mechanism of the phase selective gelators were presented. Secondly

the development of phase selective gelators composed of low-weight molecules such as amino acids

organic acids and salts

steroids and carbohydrate moieties was mainly discussed and organic polymer gelators were briefly introduced. Finally

future development of phase selective gelators was predicted.