CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Nanoparticles of magnetite (Fe3O4 NPs) are incredibly versatile systems with multiple applications in science and technology [1]. Surface modification of magnetic NPs with organic molecules presents many advantages as low cost of production, physicochemical stability, biocompatibility, safe to the environment and easy coating [2]. In this work, Fe3O4 NPs of 11 nm of diameter were synthesized with several coatings such as amino acids (arginine and cysteine), oxalate, polyethylene glycol and humic acids and were used in multiple applications as adsorption of various pollutants, effluent remediation, bacteria capture and plant fertilization. Its physicochemical properties were examined from electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, magnetization, Z potential, among others. From the characterization of the material size homogeneity, high magnetization, presence of the coatings could be confirmed from the characteristic signals in the infrared, surface charge strongly dependent on the coating, high synthesis yield and surface area. Subsequently, heavy metal adsorption tests such as As, Pb, Cu, Hg were carried out with high removal efficiencies greater than those currently reported in bibliography. The bacteria capture efficiency was 95-97% [3] and the combination of dolomite and magnetic NPs were highly efficient for the removal of phosphates and chromates in effluents. Likewise, the NPs were shown to possess fertilizer characteristics by increasing the photosynthesis efficiency in leaves sprayed with NPs. We believe that synthesized and functionalized NPs have high potential for biomedical and agricultural applications and for the adsorption of pollutants and bacteria. However, although the results presented here are promising, more studies are necessary to determine their applicability.