Efficiency of magnetic filtration of nanoscale magnetic particles used for remediation of arsenic contaminated groundwater

CHED 315

Greg R. Medders, greg-medders@utulsa.edu1, Aaron R. Isley, aaron-isley@utulsa.edu1, Parameswar Hari, hari@utulsa.edu2, and Gordon H. Purser, gordon-purser@utulsa.edu1. (1) Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Tulsa, 600 S. College Ave., Tulsa, OK 74104, (2) Department of Physics, University of Tulsa, 600 S. College Ave., Tulsa, OK 74104
Unsafe arsenic levels in groundwater present health risks around the world. One potential method of removing As is by using nano-scale magnetite particles to adsorb the contaminant. The magnetic properties of nano-scale magnetite allow it to be removed from solution using “magnetic filtration.” In this research, magnetite particles of <50 nm particle size are dispersed either in simulated groundwater using ultrasonic dispersion or mechanical dispersion and, after varying times, filtered using a magnetic field generated from permanent magnets. This presentation reports the efficiency with which the nano-scale magnetite can be captured at varying flow rates and magnetic field strengths.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Nanotechnology
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008