Development of magnetic nanoparticles for enhanced detection and removal of contaminants in waste and drinking water systems

来自制造业（如化工厂）和人类活动（如洗涤剂、洗发水、杀虫剂和化肥）的有毒污染物继续在我们的水系统中积累，如地表沃茨（如河流、水库等）和地下沃茨（如蓄水层和地下水位）。目前的技术无法去除微量的药物和个人家庭护理成分，因为它们的大小和极低的水平。拟议的研究将开发功能性磁性纳米颗粒（FMNP）和分离过程，可用于选择性地去除和浓缩这些有机芳香族化合物，这些化合物存在于处理过的废水和饮用水系统中。磁性纳米粒子（MNP）是使用聚合物胶体作为支架制备的，其中结合到胶体基质上的三价铁离子被氧化成氧化铁。这些MNP具有超顺磁性，并且可以被施加的磁场捕获。MNP可以在其表面上用环糊精（FMNP）官能化，其将通过环糊精（CD）的主客体性质选择性地结合这些有机污染物。具有结合的污染物的FMNP可以使用高重力磁性分离器捕获，并且污染物随后与FMNP分离，FMNP然后被回收和再利用。这种技术的可行性将在中试规模的分离过程（PSSP）中进行测试，并对其有效性进行详细分析。我们相信这项技术将为两种类型的应用提供一种新颖的替代方法;即（1）通过改善和增强对极低浓度污染物的检测来进行水测试和监测，以及（2）通过去除使用现有技术无法有效去除的低水平污染物来进行水处理和净化。拟议的技术将加强加拿大在水处理和检测技术方面的领导地位。中国和印度等许多发展中国家迫切需要这种技术，这将给加拿大带来巨大的经济利益，并为加拿大人创造新的就业机会。

Toxic contaminants from manufacturing operations (e.g. chemical plants) and human activities (e.g. detergents, shampoos, pesticides and fertilizers) continue to accumulate in our water systems, such as surface waters (e.g. rivers, resevoirs etc), and underground waters (e.g. aquifers, and water table). Current technologies cannot remove trace amounts of pharmaceutical and personal home care ingredients due to their size and extremely low levels. The proposed research will develop functional magnetic nanoparticles (FMNPs) and a separation process that can be used to selectively remove and concentrate these organic aromatic compounds present in processed waste and drinking water systems. The magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) are prepared using polymeric colloids as scaffolds, where ferric ions bound to the matrix of the colloids are oxidized to iron oxides. These MNPs possess superparamagnetic properties, and can be captured by an applied magnetic field. The MNPs can be functionalized with cyclodextrins on their surface (FMNPs) that will selectively bind these organic contaminants, via the host-guest property of cyclodextrins (CD). The FMNPs with bound contaminants can be captured using a high gravity magnetic separator, and the contaminants are subsequently separated from the FMNPs, which are then recycled and reused. The feasibility of such a technology will be tested in a pilot scale separation process (PSSP), where detailed analysis on its effectiveness will be evaluated. We believe this technology will provide a novel and alternative approach for two types of applications; namely (1) water testing and monitoring by improving and enhancing the detection of extremely low concentration of contaminants, and (2) water treatment and purification by removing low levels of contaminants that cannot be efficiently removed using existing technology. The proposed technology will enhance Canada's leadership in water treatment and detection technology. Such technology is critically needed in many developing countries, such as China and India, which will bring substantial economic benefits to Canada and create new jobs for Canadians.