Packed hybrid silica nanoparticles as sorbents with thermo-switchable surface chemistry and pore size for fast extraction of environmental pollutants. Issue 3 (3rd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jadhav, Sushilkumar A.; Nisticò, Roberto; Magnacca, Giuliana; Scalarone, Dominique
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 8:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 1246
• Page End: 1254
• Publication Date: 2018-01-03
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c7ra11869d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Thermoresponsive poly( N -isopropylacrylamide)-grafted silica nanoparticles were synthesized and used to prepare solid phase extraction sorbents with switchable pore size and surface chemistry for temperature-regulated extraction of water pollutants. Abstract : Thermoresponsive poly( N -isopropylacrylamide)-grafted silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) have been synthesized and fully characterized by ATR-FTIR, TGA, HRTEM, BET and DLS analysis. Hybrid solid phase extraction (SPE) beds with tuneable pore size and switchable surface chemistry were prepared by packing the polymer-grafted nanoparticles inside SPE cartridges. The cartridges were tested by checking the thermo-regulated elution of model compounds, namely methylene blue, caffeine and amoxicillin. Extraction of the analytes and regeneration of the interaction sites on the sorbent surface was carried out entirely in water solution by changing the external temperature below and above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the polymer. The results demonstrate that the elution of model compounds depends on the temperature-regulated size of the inter-particle voids and on the change of surface properties of the PNIPAM-grafted nanoparticles from hydrophilic to hydrophobic.