Preparation and characterization of a novel magnetic nano-adsorbent

A novel magnetic nano-adsorbent has been developed using Fe3O4 nanoparticles (13.2 nm) as cores and polyacrylic acid (PAA) as ionic exchange groups. The Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitating Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions in an ammonia solution and treating under hydrothermal conditions. PAA was covalently bound onto the magnetic nanoparticles via carbodiimide activation. Transmission electron micrographs showed that the magnetic nanoparticles remained discrete and had no significant change in size after binding the PAA. The X-ray diffraction patterns indicated the magnetic nanoparticles were pure Fe3O4 with a spinel structure, and the binding of PAA did not result in a phase change. Magnetic measurement revealed the magnetic nanoparticles were superparamagnetic, and their saturation magnetization was reduced only slightly after PAA binding. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the binding of PAA to the magnetic nanoparticles, suggested a binding mechanism for the PAA, and revealed the maximum weight ratio of PAA bound to the magnetic nanoparticles was 0.12. In addition, the ionic exchange capacity of the resultant magnetic nano-adsorbents was estimated to be 1.64 mequiv g−1, much higher than those of commercial ionic exchange resins. When the magnetic nano-adsorbents were used for the recovery of lysozyme, the adsorption/desorption of lysozyme was completed within 1 min due to the absence of pore-diffusion resistance. Also, the adsorption/desorption efficiency could reach almost 100% under appropriate conditions, and the recovered lysozyme retained 95% activity.