Demulsification using chitosan (CS)-coated magnetic nanomaterials has garnered significant attention. However, traditional methods for synthesizing chitosan (CS)-coated magnetic nanomaterials are often contaminated, laborious, and time-consuming. Moreover, they showed poor demulsification efficiency due to the occupation of free amino groups in CS by crosslinking agents.
RESULTS
CS-coated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized using humic acid (HA) as a bridge. The Fe3O4/HA/CS MNPs are recyclable demulsifiers for hexadecane-water microemulsions. The impacts of MNP dosage, separation time, and pH on demulsification efficiency were studied comprehensively. Compared with Fe3O4/HA and Fe3O4/CS MNPs, the demulsification efficiency of the Fe3O4/HA/CS MNPs was superior. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Sips isotherm best describe the demulsification process. Combined with the influence factors of demulsification efficiency, the demulsification mechanism involves electrostatic interactions between MNPs and oil microparticles. The maximum adsorption capacity for oil by the Fe3O4/HA/CS MNPs was 91.73 mg g−1.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology(JCTB) is an international, inter-disciplinary peer-reviewed journal concerned with the application of scientific discoveries and advancements in chemical and biological technology that aim towards economically and environmentally sustainable industrial processes.