In Search of Locally Produced Arsenic Sorbents via Impregnation of Cotton with Magnetite Nanoparticles Using Choline Acetate

Abstract A simple method to incorporate magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NPs) into cotton fiber for arsenic sorption is demonstrated. Choline acetate is utilized to simultaneously suspend Fe₃O₄ NPs while swelling the cotton fiber surface, allowing the incorporation of the Fe₃O₄ NPs in the fiber by dipping at 80 °C and washing with water. A 1:5 mass ratio Fe₃O₄ NPs:cotton fiber exhibits a tenfold increase in the sorption of As(V) when compared with raw cotton fiber. This method could be used to mass produce field‐deployable sorbents near polluted areas lacking water treatment infrastructure.