As(V) and As(III) sequestration by starch functionalized magnetite nanoparticles: influence of the synthesis route onto the trapping efficiency

We report the effect of the synthesis route of starch-functionalized magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) on their adsorption properties of As(V) and As(III) from aqueous solutions. NP synthesis was achieved by two different routes implying the alkaline precipitation of either a mixed Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) salt solution (MC samples) or a Fe(2+) salt solution in oxidative conditions (MOP samples). Syntheses were carried out with starch to Fe mass ratio (R) ranging from 0 to 10. The crystallites of starch-free MC NPs (14 nm) are smaller than the corresponding MOP (67 nm), which leads to higher As(V) sorption capacity of 0.3 mmol g(Fe)(−1) to compare with respect to 0.1 mmol g(Fe)(−1) for MOP at pH = 6. MC and MOP starch-functionalized NPs exhibit higher sorption capacities than a pristine one and the difference in sorption capacities between MOP and MC samples decreases with increasing R values. Functionalization tends to reduce the size of the magnetite crystallites and to prevent their agglomeration. Size reduction is more pronounced for MOP samples (67 nm (R0) to 12 nm (R10)) than for MC samples (14 nm (R0) to 9 nm (R10)). Therefore, due to close crystallite size, both MC and MOP samples, when prepared at R = 10, display similar As(V) (respectively, As(III)) sorption capacities close to 1.3 mmol g(Fe)(−1) (respectively, 1.0 mmol g(Fe)(−1)). Additionally, according to the effect of pH on arsenic trapping, the electrostatic interactions appear as a major factor controlling As(V) adsorption while surface complexation may control As(III) adsorption.