Modification of Sugarcane Bagasse Derivatives with Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for the Extraction of Hydrocarbons

Abstract

In this work, composites of magnetite nanoparticles embedded in sugarcane bagasse are obtained and characterized. The quasi-spherical shaped iron oxide nanoparticles, obtained by chemical methods, as well as the composite samples were physically characterized by different techniques. The diffraction patterns of the samples together with the EDX mapping of iron atoms on the surface of the samples confirm the homogeneous distribution of nanoparticles in these materials. . The resulting composite materials retain the adsorption/absorption capacity of the bagasse as well as the superparamagnetic properties of the magnetite nanoparticles. These two combined properties facilitate the application of the nanocomposites as a hydrocarbon adsorbent material, with the potential to be easily extracted from the medium by means of an external magnetic field. The magnetic extraction of hydrocarbons broadens the versatility of the applications of the composite material described here, facilitating its dispersion in large areas of water without the need of barriers for its collection, representing a wonderful alternative for the remediation of uncontrolled oil spills.