Synthesis of magnetic green nanoparticle – Molecular imprinted polymers with emerging contaminants templates

Abstract

Iron nanoparticles synthesis by an oxidation reaction is the traditional method to obtain these nanoparticles. Nowadays, new synthesis methods are being investigated to promote green chemistry. In this work, nanoparticles were performed from eucalyptus extracts and they were synthesized using a green chemistry method. Eucalyptus extracts is a material abundant in Galicia forests, so it makes them very attractive for economic, availability and reuse issues. Both types of nanoparticles were synthesized with molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs). These are materials with specific and selective analyte recognition capabilities. However, when the available sample volume in very low, the handling of polymer in liquid matrixes is complex and, for this reason, polymers were prepared attached on magnetic nanoparticles, to combine the pre-concentration capability of MIPs and the magnetic capability of nanoparticles. Green nanoparticles (GNPs) present higher adsorption capacities than chemical nanoparticles (CNP) due to the organic material which is present in the extract. The adsorption capacity with green nanoparticles was increased by more than 100 % in all cases, in relation to the adsorption value of the chemical nanoparticles. Adsorption kinetic mechanisms is suitable descripted by pseudo – second order model and thermodynamics results show Langmuir isotherm is suitable to explain the adsorption of interest molecules.