Synthesis of Magnetite-Based Polymers as Mercury and Anion Sensors Using Single Electron Transfer-Living Radical Polymerization

[Image: see text] In this work, hydrophilic polymers modified with iron oxide nanoparticles, such as iron oxide–poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) [P(DMAEMA)] magnetite-based and iron oxide–poly(acrylamide) [P(AAm)] magnetite-based polymers, were prepared via a single electron transfer-living radical polymerization approach. Bile acid and 2-bromo-2-methylpropionic acid were covalently attached onto the surface of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles, and these immobilized magnetite nanoparticles were used as an initiator for the polymerization. The binding capabilities of different ions, such as Hg(2+), CN(–), Cl(–), F(–), and NO(3)(–), were tested using these polymeric sensors monitored by UV–vis spectroscopy. Magnetite-based P(DMAEMA) showed enhanced binding capability due to the presence of tertiary amine groups. In addition, it was possible to easily separate the bound ions from aqueous media using an external magnetic field.