Perspectives on the use of magnetic materials for environmental remediation: A mini review

Abstract

Over the past several decades several contaminants, such as heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, dyes, sunscreens, and other byproducts of industrial applications leech into the environment in a variety of ways. There are many methods of removal, but one of the most promising is via magnetic separation, whereby the contaminant and magnetic materials are connected to each other and then removed via external magnetic field. This method of removal tends to be relatively inexpensive, straightforward, and highly adaptable. Furthermore, many of the candidate materials involve iron oxides, which are generally environmentally friendly. This perspective aims to provide a brief overview of recent history with regard to magnetic materials for environmental remediation.