Synthesis of poly(acrylic acid) coated-Fe3O4 superparamagnetic nano-composites and their fast removal of dye from aqueous solution.

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) coated-Fe3O4 superparamagnetic nano-composites were synthesized through a solvothermal technique by using cheap and environmental friendly iron salts and PAA. Each nano-composite was composed of many small primary nanocrystals. The as-synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) analysis and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements. These nano-composites showed rapid adsorption rate and super removal capacity of cation organic dye methylene blue (MB). Moreover, the MB desorption could be easily performed using methanol and acetic acid mixed solution. The reused performance of the nano-composites was also studied.