Abstract:
Hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent-based ferrofluids were prepared by combining magnetic nanocomposites and hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent, and studies for paraben removal were conducted. The final products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, surface area analyzer, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer, and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. SEM images and XRD pattern showed that the magnetic nanocomposite particles are mostly spherical and the magnetite phase of iron oxide and amorphous silica. The surface area of these materials ranged from 97.02 m2/g for the bare magnetite to 132.80 m2/g, 292.74 m2/g, and 421.88 m2/g after modified with silica shell and mesoporous silica. All of the nanocomposite materials showed superparamagnetic properties. The optimized conditions for propylparaben removal were achieved when using Fe3O4@SiO2@mSiO2 and menthol/palmitic acid ferrofluid with pH at 6 for 30 minutes of contact time and 200 μL of volume ferrofluid per 5 mL of water-based sample. The analysis was done by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. In general, the removal efficiency was increased in line with the chain length of fatty acid in ferrofluid.