CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Nanoparticles of magnetite (NPs-Fe3O4) are very versatile systems with multiple applications inscience and technology.[1] Surface modification of magnetic NPs with organic molecules presentmany advantages as low cost of production, physicochemical stability, biocompatibility, safe tothe environment and easy coating [2]. This NPs have been the subject of an enormous scientificproduction in the last decade, and numerous biological applications have been reported. In thiswork, Fe3O4 with different coatings were used in multiple applications as adsorption of variouspollutants, effluent remediation, bacteria capture and plant fertilization [3]. NPs-Fe3O4 of 11 nmof diameter were synthesized with several coatings such as amino acids (arginine and cysteine),oxalate, polyethylene glycol and humic-acids. Its physicochemical properties were examined fromelectron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, magnetization, Z potential, amongothers. From which size homogeneity, high magnetization, presence of the coatings could beconfirmed from the characteristic signals in the infrared, surface charge strongly dependent onthe coating, high synthesis yield and surface area. Subsequently, heavy metal adsorption testssuch as As, Pb, Cu, Hg were carried out with high removal efficiencies greater than those currentlyreported in bibliography. The bacteria capture efficiency was 95-97% [4] and the combination ofdolomite and magnetic nanoparticles were highly efficient for the removal of phosphates andchromates in effluents. Likewise, the nanoparticles were shown to possess fertilizercharacteristics by increasing the quantum and efficiencies yields of photosynthesis in leavessprayed with NPs-Fe3O4. This results shown that NPs-Fe3O4 have high potential for bioapplications for adsorption of pollutants and bacteria and as nanofertilizer. However, although theresults presented here are promising, more studies are necessary to determine their applicability.