Modifying Fe3O4 microspheres with rhodamine hydrazide for selective detection and removal of Hg2+ ion in water.

Rhodamine hydrazide modifying Fe(3)O(4) microspheres (Fe(3)O(4)-R6G) was developed for selective detection and removal of mercury ion from water. With a saturation magnetization of 74.2 emu/g, the Fe(3)O(4)-R6G could be simply recollected from water with magnetic separation within a few minutes. The selectivity and adsorption ability of Fe(3)O(4)-R6G for metal cations were studied by fluorophotometry and atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. The results showed that Fe(3)O(4)-R6G exhibited excellent selectivity for sensing mercury ion over other metal ions in aqueous solution, and also adsorbed 91% of mercury ion. The maximum adsorption capacity of the Fe(3)O(4)-R6G for Hg(2+) ion was 37.4 μmol g(-1). The Fe(3)O(4)-R6G was successfully applied to the determination of Hg(2+) in environmental samples, and could be used repeatedly by treatment with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide.