Adsorption behavior of some aromatic compounds on hydrophobic magnetite for magnetic separation

► Two kinds of modified hydrophobic magnetites were prepared as an adsorbent. ► The modifications on magnetite were carried out using alkyl chain and phenyl group. ► The aromatic compounds (2 < log Pow < 4) were adsorbed by hydrophobic interaction. ► The compounds (1 < log Pow < 2) were adsorbed by π-electron interaction. ► Adsorption behaviors of compounds (2 < log Pow < 4) were multi-layer adsorption.