Functionalized nanoparticles have recently gained significant attention for their application in environmental remediation due to their ability to adsorb irreversibly at the oil-water interface. We specifically focus on para-amino benzoic acid (PABA) functionalized carbon black (CB) particles due to their tunable interfacial properties and their ability to absorb environmentally toxic polycyclic aromatic compounds. We hypothesize that the carboxyl groups of the PABA attached to CB particles can conjugate with iron salts and can be reduced to synthesize magnetite nanoparticles. We investigate the ability of the composite iron-carbon particles to form oil-in-water emulsions of these particles under varying conditions of pH and ionic strength of the continuous phase. We propose that the magnetic properties imparted by magnetite and tunable surface properties due to PABA functionalized CB particles make these composite particles attractive agents for oil emulsification and ground water remediation.

Iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized by p-amino benzoic acid terminated carbon black particles for oil spill remediation

245th National Meeting (2013)

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