Monodispers and Multifunctional Magnetic Composite Core Shell Microspheres for Demulsification Applications

Iron oxide@Poly(Glycidylmethacrylate-methyl methacrylate-divinyl benzene) magnetic composite core shell microspheres Fe₃O₄@P(GMA-MMA-DVB) with epoxy group on the surface was designed and synthesized by solvothermal process followed by distillation polymerization. The surface epoxy group was modified with amino group of ethylene diamine (EDA) to prepare Fe₃O₄@P(GMA-MMA-DVB)/NH₂ microspheres, and then effects of modification on the structure, interfacial behavior and hence demulsification of the amino modified epoxy coating were examined. The prepared magnetic microspheres were characterized using a laser particle size analyzer, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer analysis indicates the presence of epoxy group, amino group and Fe₃O₄ in the final Fe₃O₄@P(GMA-MMA-DVB) and Fe₃O₄@P(GMA-MMA-DVB)/NH₂ magnetic core shell microspheres. Our experimental results show that Fe₃O₄@P(GMA-MMA-DVB)/NH₂ magnetic core shell microspheres exhibit good interfacial and demulsification properties and able to remove emulsified water from stable emulsion. The resulting microspheres showed excellent magnetic properties and further these can be recycled and reused by magnetic separation.