Applications of Magnetite Nanoparticles in Water Treatments

LUCIANO CARLOS; FERNANDO S. GARCÍA EINSCHLAG; MÓNICA C. GONZALEZ; DANIEL O. MARTIRE

Waste Water: Treatment technologies and recent analytical developments

InTech. Open Access Publisher

Año: 2013; p. 63 - 74

Iron-based nanoparticles have unique properties that allow for a wide range of applications, such as magnetic resonance imaging, ferrofluids for audio speakers, magnetic targeted drug delivery, and magnetic recording media [1]. These insoluble magnetic materials have the advantage of being easily removed with the aid of a magnet. The use of iron-based nanomaterials for water treatment has recently received considerable attention [2]. Iron oxide nanoparticles with different coatings have been used as adsorbents to remove arsenic from water [4] and for the extraction of Cd(II), Hg(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II) [5]. Humic acid coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4/HA) were also employed for the removal of sulfathiazole from aqueous media. Fe3O4/HA exhibited high activity to produce hydroxyl (?OH) radicals through catalytic decomposition of H2O2. The preparation of combined magnetite/silver materials which can actively concentrate chromate (Cr(VI)) in water and substantially enhance Raman signals was recently prepared [6]. The convenience of using magnetic nano- and micronsized particles as phosphate absorbents and their later removal from solution by high gradient magnetic separation was also recently considered [7]. The aim of this book chapter is to review the methods of synthesis and characterization of magnetite nanoparticles and to discuss their potential applications for water treatment. [1] S. Laurent, D. Forge, M. Port, A. Roch, C. Robic, L. Vander Elst and R.N. Muller, Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: Synthesis, stabilization, vectorization, physicochemical characterizations and biological applications, Chem. Rev. 108 (2008) 2064-2110. [2] M. Auffan, H.J. Shipley, S. Yean, A.T. Kan, M. Tomson, J. Rose and J.Y. Bottero, Nanomaterials as adsobents, in: M.R. Wiesner, J.Y. Bottero (Eds), Environmental Nanotechnology: Applications and Impacts of Nanomaterials, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2007, pp. 371-392. [3] C. Noubactep, The fundamental mechanism of aqueous contaminant removal by metallic iron, Water SA 36 (2010) 663-670. [4] Y. Wang, G. Morin, G. Ona-Nguema, F. Juillot, G. Calas and G.E. Brown, Jr, Distinctive Arsenic(V) Trapping Modes by Magnetite Nanoparticles Induced by Different Sorption Processes, Environ. Sci. Technol. 2011, 45, 7258?7266. [5] J.F. Liu, Z.S. Zhao and G.B. Jiang, Coating Fe3O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles with Humic Acid for High Efficient Removal of Heavy Metals in Water, Environ. Sci. Technol. 42 (2008) 6949-6954. [6] Jingjing Du, Chuanyong Jing, Preparation of Fe3O4@Ag SERS substrate and its application in environmental Cr(VI) analysis, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 358 (2011) 54?61. [7] I. de Vicentea, A. Merino-Martos, L. Cruz-Pizarro, J. de Vicente. On the use of magnetic nano and microparticles for lake restoration, Journal of Hazardous Materials 181 (2010) 375?3