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

制造作业（例如化工厂）和人类活动（例如洗涤剂、洗发水、杀虫剂和化肥）产生的有毒污染物不断积聚在我们的水系统中，例如地表水（例如河流、水库等）和地下水（例如含水层和地下水位）。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（FMNPs）和一种分离过程，可用于选择性地去除和浓缩存在于处理过的废物和饮用水系统中的这些有机芳香族化合物。磁性纳米颗粒（MNP）是用聚合物胶体作为支架制备的，其中铁离子结合到胶体的基质被氧化成氧化铁。这些MNPs具有超顺磁性，可以被外加磁场捕获。MNPs可以在其表面与环糊精（FMNPs）进行功能化，通过环糊精（CD）的主客体性质，FMNPs可以选择性地结合这些有机污染物。含有结合污染物的FMNPs可以使用高重力磁选机捕获，污染物随后从FMNPs中分离出来，然后回收再利用。这种技术的可行性将在一个中试规模的分离过程（PSSP）中进行测试，届时将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)通过改进和加强对极低浓度污染物的检测来进行水检测和监测；(2)通过去除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.