Magnetic Nanoparticles for Oil Removal from Water: A Short Review of Key Findings

Abstract

This mini review provides an overview of the potential use of magnetizable nanoparticles for de-oiling water, drawing on the findings of several studies in the field. Magnetic nanoparticles demonstrate significant promise for oil removal due to their magnetic properties, which enable them to be separated from contaminated water using a magnetic field. Additionally, the surface of these nanoparticles can be modified with oil-attracting agents to enhance their oil-removal efficiency. Our systematic search in Scopus revealed that "oil," "water," "magnetic," "nanoparticles," and "removal" were the most commonly used words in the literature corpus. Through our analysis of four case studies, we gained valuable insights into the practical applications of magnetic nanoparticles for oil removal from water and observed that their unique magnetic properties make them an ideal solution for this purpose. Furthermore, our summary of key findings from the four studies revealed that optimal conditions for oil removal include a nanoparticle size range of 2-10 nm, surface modification with cationic coatings or silica and ammonium, and a concentration range of 0.31 to 5 mg/cm3 to 30-50 mg/L. The recyclability of these nanoparticles was found to be efficient, with an oil removal efficiency of approximately 97% after ten cycles. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal conditions for oil removal from water using magnetic nanoparticles, as these conditions may vary based on specific applications. In conclusion, magnetic nanoparticles offer a promising avenue for effective water de-oiling and are an area of significant interest in oil removal from water research.