Magnetic Nanomaterials Against Pollution: Novel Methodologies for the Remediation, Control, and Revalorization of Waters

Abstract

Hydrosphere embraces a diversity of organism and compounds in equilibrium but the anthropogenic activity is disrupting this balance. Among the disturbance of the equilibrium rates, we find pollutants of emerging concern, such as microplastics, PFAS or hormones, but heavy metals too. The later are toxic and bioaccumulative, moreover, depending on the metal species, the toxicity and properties may be different, so it is crucial the development of new methods for the treatment, monitoring, quatification and speciation at ultratrace levels in waters. In this work, new magnetic nanomaterials have been synthesized and applied to solve these challenges. New methodologies for the determination, quantification and speciation of several heavy metals of concern (specifically chromium, antimony and arsenic) were developed. The nanomaterials can be employed as well for the sensing, treatment and monitoring of emerging concern pollutants. These novel nanomaterials patented by us, are based on coupling magnetic nanoparticles and green graphene oxide with a further functionalization to enhance selectivity. Methodologies employed magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) coupled to atomic spectroscopy techniques, reaching LODs and LOQs of ppb and ppt. Novel methods were validated and employed to control and quantificate the pollutants in waters, as was demonstrated successfully with diverse waters like river, sea, well, tap, coast, lake and canal water from Spain, Canada and France.