Using speciation diagrams to improve synthesis of magnetic nanosorbents for environmental applications

This work addresses environmental applications of magnetic nanoparticles. We highlight the chemical design of filtration aids based on magnetic nanoferrites coated with specific ligands potentially used in magnetic separation of pollutants from water. From electrochemical measurements, we determined the concentration of the surface sites in function of pH for the precursor magnetic nanoparticles. Then, coupling the speciation diagrams of the precursor nanoferrite particle surface with that of the specific ligand, it was possible to provide a theoretical prediction of the optimal pH for particle surface-ligand complexation, leading to advances in nanosorbents developing.