Magnetic boron specific chelating microsphere by dispersion polymerisation for boron adsorption

Magnetic poly(glycidylmethacrylate) microspheres were prepared by dispersion polymerisation in the presence of oleic acid coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and modified by N-methyl-D-glucamine for the fabrication of magnetic boron specific chelating microspheres. The structure and properties of obtained microspheres were analysed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. The utility efficiency of monomer reached 60% under an optimum dropwise feeding process. The magnetic microspheres are ∼1 μm in size, and superparamagnetic nanoparticles have a saturation magnetisation of 17.1 emu g- 1 and a Fe₃O₄ content of 28 wt.%. The resultant boron specific chelating sorbent presents an adsorption capacity of 0.43 mmol g- 1 in the optimum conditions. Fast separation by magnetic field makes the prepared microspheres useful for the purification of boron contaminated water. These microspheres will exhibit strong potential in the treatment of boron contaminated water by rapid cost efficient separation under external magnetic field.