Recovering magnetic Fe3O4-ZnO nanocomposites from algal biomass based on hydrophobicity shift under UV irradiation

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-3-2015

Abstract

Magnetic separation, one of the promising bioseparation technologies, faces the challenges in recovery and reuse of magnetic agents during algal harvesting for biofuel extraction. This study synthesized a steric acid (SA)-coated Fe3O4-ZnO nanocomposite that could shift hydrophobicity under UV365 irradiation. Our results showed that with the transition of surface hydrophobicity under UV365 irradiation, magnetic nanocomposites detached from the concentrated algal biomass. The detachment was partially induced by the oxidation of SA coating layers due to the generation of radicals (e.g., •OH) by ZnO under UV365 illumination. Consequently, the nanocomposite surface shifted from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, which significantly reduced the adhesion between magnetic particles and algae as predicted by the extended Derjaguin and Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek (EDLVO) theory. Such unique hydrophobicity shift may also find many other potential applications that require recovery, recycle, and reuse of valuable nanomaterials to increase sustainability and economically viability.

Identifier

84930663798 (Scopus)

Publication Title

ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5b03472

e-ISSN

19448252

ISSN

19448244

PubMed ID

25965291

First Page

11677

Last Page

11682

Issue

21

Volume

7

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