Magnesium Aminoclay-Fe3O4 (MgAC-Fe3O4) Hybrid Composites for Harvesting of Mixed Microalgae

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the synthesis of magnesium aminoclay-iron oxide (MgAC-Fe3O4) hybrid composites for microalgae-harvesting application. MgAC-templated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in different ratios of MgAC and Fe3O4 NPs. The uniform distribution of Fe3O4 NPs in the MgAC matrix was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). According to obtained X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, increased MgAC loading leads to decreased intensity of the composites' (311) plane of Fe3O4 NPs. For harvesting of Chlorella sp. KR-1, Scenedesmus obliquus and mixed microalgae (Chlorella sp. KR-1/ Scenedesmus obliquus), the optimal pH was 4.0. At higher pHs, the microalgae-harvesting efficiencies fell. Sample #1, which had the highest MgAC concentration, showed the most stability: the harvesting efficiencies for Chlorella sp. KR-1, Scenedesmus obliquus, and mixed microalgae were reduced only to similar to 50% at pH = 10.0. The electrostatic interaction between MgAC and the Fe3O4 NPs in the hybrid samples by microalgae, as confirmed by zeta potential measurements, were attributed to the harvesting mechanisms. Moreover, the zeta potentials of the MgAC-Fe3O4 hybrid composites were reduced as pH was increased, thus diminishing the microalgae-harvesting efficiencies.