In this work, a series of functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles possessing different degrees of hydrophilicity were synthesized. Fe2O3 NPs were functionalized using C3, C8 and C16 silane coupling agents from the formation of silicon-oxygen bonds by hydrolysis of labile groups and reaction on -OH groups on the oxide surface, keeping the surface area active and avoiding the formation of multilayers from calculations using the BET surface area and particle size measured by DLS and TEM. The degree of functionalization modulates the interfacial activity of the particles with contact angles between 20° and 150° measured by the sessile drop method, XPS and IR absorption spectroscopy. The synthesized nanoparticles were used for formulating diverse nanofluids whose properties are currently being analyzed. Its interfacial activity was studied from emulsions formulated with water and a mixture of hydrocarbons and proportions of functionalized NPs. In addition, they are being applied in the liquid phase oxidation of dibenzothiophene with H2O2. The results show that the functionality allows modulation in a wide spectrum of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, allowing the distribution of NPs in stable nanofluids and at interfaces for their transport and catalytic function applicable to wastewater recovery processes by catalytic oxidation, transport through of porous media in oil EOR processes.

Emulsions stability by functionalized Fe2O3 NPs and catalytic reactivity

ACS Fall 2021

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