Preparation of compound P(MMA-AA-EA)/Fe3O4 superparamagnetic nanoparticles and their performance in selective adsorption of azo dye

•Compound P(MMA-AA-EA)/Fe3O4 nanoparticles are prepared.•P(MMA-AA-EA)/Fe3O4 nanoparticles show superparamagnetic properties.•P(MMA-AA-EA)/Fe3O4 had selective adsorption ability to methylene blue.

Compound poly(methylmethacrylate (MMA)-acrylic acid (AA)-ethyl acrylate (EA))/Fe3O4 superparamagnetic nanoparticles were synthesized successfully by emulsion polymerization and solvothermal reaction methods. The nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). P(MMA-AA-EA)/Fe3O4 nanoparticles exhibited superparamagnetic properties with a saturation magnetization value of 20 emu/g. The selective adsorption behaviors of nanoparticles toward dyes were investigated and the function of electronic interaction during the adsorption process was also discussed.

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