Magnetite nanoparticles conjugated with lignin: A physicochemical and magnetic study

• Published in: Applied surface science 2017-11, Vol.422, p.94-103
• Main Authors: Klapiszewski, Łukasz, Zdarta, Jakub, Antecka, Katarzyna, Synoradzki, Karol, Siwińska-Stefańska, Katarzyna, Moszyński, Dariusz, Jesionowski, Teofil
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fe3O4–lignin hybrid; Magnetic properties; Nanomagnetite; Physicochemical and structural characteristics
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.05.255

[Display omitted] •Simple and effective synthesis of nano-Fe3O4/lignin hybrids.•Fe3O4/lignin hybrid materials with enhanced thermal and electrokinetic properties.•Mechanism of the nano-magnetite particles/lignin interactions.•Magnetite/lignin hybrid materials show bulk-like magnetic properties of Fe3O4. Using the by-product biopolymer lignin and nanoparticles of magnetite, well-known for its nontoxicity and magnetic properties, novel nanomagnetite–lignin hybrid materials were synthesized. In the first step, magnetite was produced via a co-precipitation method with hydrothermal treatment, and was found to have a particle size of around 20nm. Nano–Fe3O4 was then combined with pre-activated lignin to obtain hybrids with various magnetite–lignin ratios, whose physicochemical and magnetic properties were thoroughly analyzed. Thermal analysis showed the hybrids to have higher thermal stability than pure lignin. Based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy it was demonstrated that the Fe3O4 and lignin are connected via FeOC bonds. Further measurements showed the nanomagnetite–lignin hybrid materials to have good magnetic properties. The results of this study suggest that the synthesized hybrids may find practical applications in many fields of science and industry.