In this study, we have taken the concept of water treatment by functionalized magnetic particles one step forward by integrating the technology into a complete proof of concept, which included the preparation of surface modified beads, their use as highly selective absorbents for heavy metals ions (Zinc, Nickel), and their performance in terms of magnetic separation. The separation characteristics were studied both through experiments and by simulations. The data gathered from these experimental works enabled the elaboration of various scenarios for Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). The LCA showed that the environmental impact of the system is highly dependent on the recovery rate of the magnetic particles. The absolute impact on climate change varied significantly among the scenarios studied and the recovery rates. The results support the hypothesis that chelation specificity, magnetic separation and bead recovery should be optimized to specific targets and applications. 

We present experimental intrinsic loss power (ILP) values, measured at an excitation frequency of 1 MHz and at relatively low field amplitudes of 3.4 to 9.9 kA/m, as a function of the mean core diameter, for selected magnetic nanoparticle (MNP). The mean core sizes ranged from ca. 8 nm to 31 nm. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that those with smaller core sizes (less than ca. 22 nm) were single-core MNPs, while those with larger core sizes (ca. 29 nm to 31 nm) were multi-core MNPs. The ILP data showed a peak at ca. 20 nm. We show here that this behaviour correlates well with the predicted ILP values obtained using either a non-interacting Debye model, or via dynamic Monte-Carlo simulations, the latter including core-core magnetic interactions for the multi-core particles. This alignment of the models is a consequence of the low field amplitudes used. We also present interesting results showing that the core-core interactions affect the ILP value differently depending on the mean core size.

We have developed a nano-rheological characterization tool to extract the frequency- and scale-dependent rheological properties of soft materials during oral processing. Taking advantage of AC susceptometry, the dynamic magnetization of magnetic nanoparticles blended in the matrix material is measured. The magnetic AC susceptibility spectra of the particles are affected by the viscosity and mechanical modulus of the matrix material and provide the rheological properties of the matrix. Commercially available iron-oxide magnetic nanoparticles with 80 and 100 nm particle sizes are used as tracers in the frequency range of 1 Hz–10 kHz. The AC susceptibility is measured using two differentially connected coils, and the effects of the sample temperature and distance with respect to the detection coils are investigated. The developed measurement setup shows the feasibility of remote nano-rheological measurements up to 2 cm from the coil system, which can be used to, e.g., monitor the texture of matrix materials during oral processing.

We have studied nanorheological properties (viscosity and shear moduli) of aqueous xanthan solutions, in the oscillation frequency range up to 10 kHz by using magnetic particles that undergo Brownian relaxation and frequency dependent AC susceptibility (ACS). We used two magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) systems with different mean particle sizes of 80 nm and 100 nm. The determined viscosity and shear modulus of the diluted xanthan solutions from the ACS measurement of the two particle systems agree with traditional oscillatory rheological measurements. However, there is a particle size dependency that could be explained by comparing particles sizes with the xanthan microstructure

We show results of nanorheological studies of different concentrations of xanthan (non-Newtonian fluid) in water using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) together with the AC susceptibility (ACS) vs frequency method. For comparison we also show the ACS response for different concentrations of glycerol in water (Newtonian fluid). The ACS response is measured, and the data is modelled using dynamic magnetic models and different viscoelastic models. We study the ACS response (in-phase and out-of-phase ACS components) at different concentrations of xanthan in water (up to 1 wt% xanthan) and with a constant concentration of MNPs. We use MNP systems that show Brownian relaxation (sensitive to changes in the environmental properties around the MNPs). ACS measurements are performed using the DynoMag system. The Brownian relaxation of the MNP system peak is shifting down in frequency and the ACS response is broadening and decreases due to changes in the viscoelastic properties around the MNPs in the xanthan solution. The viscosity and the storage moduli are determined at each excitation frequency and compared with traditional macroscopic small amplitude oscillatory shear rheological measurements. The results from the traditional rheological and nanorheological measurements correlate well at higher xanthan concentration.

nanocubes display a significant augmentation of the magnetic susceptibility and dissipation as compared to 0D and 2D systems. The performance of the nanocube needles is highlighted by a colossal anisotropy factor defined as the ratio of the parallel to the perpendicular magnetization components. We show that the origin of this effect cannot be ascribed to shape anisotropy in its classical sense; as such, it has no analogy in bulk magnetic materials. The temperature-dependent anisotropy factors of the in- and out-of-phase components of the magnetization have an extremely strong particle size dependence and reach values of 80 and 2500, respectively, for the largest nanocubes in this study. Aided by simulations, we ascribe the anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility, and its strong particle-size dependence to a synergistic coupling between the dipolar interaction field and a net anisotropy field resulting from a partial texture in the 1D nanocube needles.