Abstract: The present invention relates to phosphorylated polyphenols, preferably tannins that, unlike their unphosphorylated counterparts, do not suffer from relatively low stability, resulting in an activity that is relatively short in time, and/or that do not result in yellowing of materials therewith such as textiles or polymers. The present invention further relates to a simple, cheap and environmentally friendly way of preparing these compounds. The phosphorylation process of the invention can be extended to simple phenolic compounds as well, as long as these have at least one accessible hydroxyl group. The phosphorylated compounds according to the invention can be used as antioxidants, as radical scavengers, as complexating agents for metals and proteins, as antibacterials or antiallergenic compounds, and as agents to flock textile.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a complexating system comprising a tannin immobilised on a solid support by means of a bifunctional spacer which is covalently bound from one hand to said solid support by a first function and from the other hand to said tannin by a second function, wherein the tannin is a naturally occurring tannin and exhibits at least six hydroxyl groups. Said complexating system can be used in particular for chelating metals and proteins, as an antioxidant, as a radical scavenger or as an antibacterial. More specifically, applications can be found in the clarification and stabilisation of beverages, the treatment of textiles, or the separation and/or purification of proteins and/or metals.