Poly(ethylenimine) functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for sorption of Pb, Cu, and Ni: potential application in catalysis

ABSTRACT

The poly(ethylenimine) functionalized magnetite particles were studied for their preconcentration efficiencies toward Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Ni²⁺ ions. The loading capacities were found to be 26 mg g⁻¹, 46 mg g⁻¹, and 13 mg g⁻¹ of Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Ni²⁺ ions, respectively. Cu²⁺ ions loaded on the magnetically retrievable nanoparticles were used for Henry reaction as a representative example of a heterogeneous catalyst. These particles were characterized for their chemical, physical, thermal and magnetic properties. The Henry reaction involved reaction between m-nitro benzaldehyde and nitromethane to afford the nitroaldol adducts 1-(3-nitrophenyl)-2-nitrosoethanol with 80% yield in ethanol at room temperature.

KEYWORDS:

• Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles
• poly(ethylenimine)
• metal ions preconcentration
• catalysis
• Henry reaction

Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to Dr. P.K. Pujari, Associate Director RC&I Group, BARC, Dr. S.K. Nayak, Associate Director Bio-Science Group, BARC, for their keen interest in the present work. Authors are thankful to Analytical Chemistry Division, BARC, Mumbai for ICP-AAS analysis, SAIF, IIT Bombay, Mumbai for FESEM and CHN analyses, and Department of Physics, University of Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune for VSM analyses. PBR thanks Board of Research in Nuclear Science (BRNS), DAE, India for the financial assistance under BARC-University of Pune MoU for the Doctoral studies.

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