Synthesis and design of functionalized magnetic nanocolloids for water pollution remediation

This work focus on the potential applications of magnetic nanoparticles on pollution remediation. We draw attention to the chemical design of functionalized magnetic colloids based on tartrate ligands to be used in magnetic separation of heavy metals from wastewater. Coupling the speciation diagrams of nanoferrites particles surface with that of the tartaric acid, it was possible to provide a theoretical prediction of the optimal pH for particle surface–ligand complexation. Finally, from an electrochemical approach based on simultaneous potentiometric and conductimetric titrations it was possible to determine the saturation value of the surface charge density of the functionalized nanoparticles and its pH dependence.