Scientists from the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which is a member of the Yenisei Siberia Research Center, together with colleagues from Taiwan synthesized magnetite nanoparticles with silver capable of effectively absorbing organic dyes from water. After the pollutants are absorbed, the nanoparticles are easily removed from the water using a magnetic field. After that, they can be processed for reuse.
Organic dyes are an integral part of life, they are used in various industries and give products a bright and saturated color. When they enter wastewater, they have a negative impact on the environment and aquatic ecosystems. The discharge of untreated wastewater into natural reservoirs leads to a violation of the natural processes of self-purification of water and deterioration of the sanitary condition of reservoirs. Most organic dyes, having a high degree of solubility in water, are not amenable to traditional purification methods and biodegradation, therefore they pose a serious threat to the environment even at low concentrations.
The main magnetic material used as an absorber of pollutants in liquids is considered to be magnetite. It has good magnetic properties, is easy to obtain, easy to modify and non-toxic. The scientists decided to modify the nanoparticles with silver to improve their antibacterial, adsorption, catalytic and photocatalytic properties.
“Research on water purification methods and the search for new opportunities are increasingly in demand. The trend towards water purification using magnetic nanoparticles is becoming relevant. A huge advantage of magnetic nanoparticles is the possibility of their removal from the purified liquid using a magnetic field and repeated subsequent use,” said Oksana Ivanova, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, researcher at the L.V. Kirensky Institute of Physics SB RAS.
Experts from Pingtung National University (Taiwan) also participated in the study. The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation and the Krasnoyarsk Regional Science Foundation.
Source: Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences”