Mini Magnetic Muck Managers

Analysis

The colloidal scaffold is made up of cross-linked polymers and there are COOH groups along these polymer chains. With the addition of NaOH, a base, the COOH groups were neutralized to form COO^-. The negative charges repelled each other and thus, the scaffold expanded. With this, we could add NaOH to the colloidal scaffold to expand it in order to impregnate it with ferric ions. If the scaffold was too small, ferric ions would not be able to enter to form the magnetite.

Figure 1.1: Characterization of colloidal scaffold using Dynamic Light Scattering

1. Colloidal Scaffold

Why does the colloidal scaffold expand with the increase in pH?

The development of magnetic nanoparticles for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants in drinking water

2. Magnetic Nanoparticle

Why does the magnetic nanoparticle expand with increase in pH?

Figure 1.2: Characterization of nanoparticle using Dynamic Light Scattering

The swelling of the nanoparticle due to increase in pH is indicative of the colloidal scaffold it is composed of. However, by comparing the graphs, we can see that the hydrodynamic radius of the nanoparticle is significantly greater than that of the colloidal scaffold. This is significant evidence of the magnetite.

 

With the ability to increase the size of the nanoparticle using pH, we are now able to manipulate the nanoparticle according to our wants or needs. This makes magnetic nanoparticles a very flexible option in water purification as it can modified according to the varying water compositions of different regions.