Mini Magnetic Muck Managers

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

Observations

The colloidal scaffold we created was an opaque milky white solution, which was evidence of the polymer we created using emulsion polymerization.

 

The magnetic nanoparticles turned black after oxidization, signifying the successful conversion of ferric ions to ferric oxide, a magnetite, thus making the nanoparticle magnetic.

 

 

3 necked flask in which we constructed the colloidal scaffold

Finished Product: the colloidal scaffold

Nanoparticles before oxidization: a clear solution

Nanoparticles after oxidization: the black colour is due to Fe₃O₄

The results from the Dynamic Scattering Experiments conducted on the colloidal scaffold and nanoparticles prepared at different pHs are shown below.

These are pictures of the FMNPs (nanoparticles) taken with a transmission electron microscope. The nanoparticles are spherical in shape and are the desired size of 50—200 nm. The black colour is indicative of the magnetite. Cyclodextrin cannot be seen as it is transparent to the electron microscope.

Figure 1.1: As the pH increased, the hydrodynamic radius of the colloidal scaffold also increased. We discovered that the size of the colloidal scaffold could be manipulated using pH.

1. Creation of colloidal scaffold and nanoparticle

2. Characterization of colloidal scaffold and nanoparticle

Figure 1.2: We also discovered that the size of the nanoparticle was pH-responsive, expanding with increase of pH.