By controlling size, shape and composition, the magnetic properties of iron oxide based nanoparticles can be controlled. There is a remarkably broad application potential for small particles with novel magnetic effects: For instance, the particles can be engineered to behave superparamagnetically. They are strong magnets in an external magnetic field, but lose their magnetisation completely, once the field is removed. Thus, switchable magnets can be created. Micron sized composite particles were synthesised from these switchable magnetic nano-building-blocks that act as carrier particles in fluids. It will be demonstrated how these superparamagnetic nanocomposite microparticles with a nanostructured adsorber on the particles surface act as magnetic scavenger particles to selectively remove and recover phosphate from waste water. Moreover, a complex particle system consisting of these superparamagnetic nanocomposite microparticles, coated with luminescent metal−organic frameworks is presented. The novel composites combine the properties of both constituents: superparamagnetism and luminescence. The magnetic properties can be exploited to magnetically collect the particles from dispersions in fluids and, by gathering them at one spot, to augment the luminescence originating from the MOF modification on the particles. The luminescence can be influenced by chemical compounds, e.g., by quenching observed for low concentrations of water. Thus, the new composite systems present an innovative concept of property combination that can be potentially used for the detection of water traces in organic solvents as a magnetically augmentable, luminescent water detector.

Superparamagnetic carrier particles for water purification, resources recovery and substance sensing in fluids

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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