Novel Method for the Synthesis of CoFe₂O₄ Magnetic Nanofluid and Its Application for the Size-Based Separation of BSA and E. coli Mixture

Abstract

In the present study, two phases were conducted. In the first phase, the magnetic nanofluid (CoFe₂O₄), was synthesized by the homogeneous generation of all initial ions (Co²⁺, Fe³⁺ and OH⁻) using microwave heating. The end product of this process after homogenizing with an ultrasonic laboratory processer was a stable magnetic nanofluid of CoFe₂O₄ with particle size of 15.2 ± 5.2 nm. The structure and properties of synthesized magnetic nanofluid were identified by XRD, TEM, LLS, and VSM. In the second phase, the BSA and E. coli mixture was separated according to their size by a separation technique consisted of an iron obstacle column and CoFe₂O₄ magnetic nanofluid, which produced magnetophoretic forces. The biomolecules could be separated from their mixture on the basis of magnetophoretic forces. The larger particles attract more force and are captured by the column while smaller ones pass through the column. The Taguchi design was applied for achieving optimum condition in the separation process.

Keywords:

• cobalt ferrite
• separation
• magnetophoretic
• magnetic nanofluid
• Taguchi design