A Core–Shell Structured Nanocomposite Material for Detection, Adsorption and Removal of Hg(II) Ions in Water

In this paper, a core-shell structured nanocomposite material was prepared for the detection, adsorption and removal of Hg(ll) ions in aqueous solution. The core was made from Fe3O4 nanoparticles with superparamagnetic behavior and the outer shell was made from amorphous silica modified with pyrene-based sensing-probes. The material could detect and adsorb Hg(II) ions in aqueous solution due to its surface being modified with pyrene-based sensing-probes, and could easily be removed from the solution by magnetic force because of its core being made from magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles. This multifunctional core-shell structure was confirmed and characterized by TEM, IR spectra, TGA, XRD and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms. Experiments were conducted on its functions of detection, adsorption and removal of Hg(II) ions in aqueous solution. The experimental results showed that this composite material had high sensitivity and unique selectivity to Hg(II), and that it could easily be removed from the solution.