Engineering of Superparamagnetic Core-Shell Iron Oxide/N-Chloramine Nanoparticles for Water Purification

In this study, we describe the synthesis and characterization of superparamagnetic core-shell iron oxide (IO)/N-halamine antibacterial nanoparticles (NPs). For this purpose, superparamagnetic IO core NPs were coated with cross-linked polymethacrylamide (PMAA) by surfactant-free dispersion copolymerization of methacrylamide and N,N-methylenebis(acrylamide) in an aqueous continuous phase. The effect of the polymerization process on the chemical composition, size, shape, crystallinity, and magnetic properties of the IO/PMAA NPs was elucidated. Conversion of the core-shell IO/PMAA NPs into their N-halamine form, IO/PMAA-Cl, was accomplished using a chlorination reaction with sodium hypochlorite. The influence of chlorination on the shape, crystallinity, and magnetic properties of the IO/PMAA NPs was studied. The IO/PMAA-Cl NPs demonstrated excellent antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Finally, the chlorination recharging capabilities of the NPs and their potential for use in the purification of water containing bacteria were demonstrated with magnetic columns packed with the IO/PMAA-Cl NPs.