introducing itaconic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles as a novel magnetic core to prepare a magnetic ion-imprinted polymer

Aim and background: the most popular magnetic nanoparticles (mnps) employed in the synthesis of magnetic ion-imprinted polymers (miips) are fe3o4 nps. the surface of fe3o4 nps is modified by silica compounds to accept the polymer layer. silica compounds are expensive and cause an increase in the size of the final adsorbent. the main idea of this research is to investigate the possibility of using itaconic acid (ita) as the surface modifier of the magnetic core and using it to prepare miip. methods: in a one-pot process, fe3o4 mnps were synthesized and simultaneously their surface was functionalized by ita. under the n2 atmosphere and reflux, fe2+/fe3+ (1:2) solution was added dropwise to the alkaline ita solution. the prepared mnps was separated and used for the synthesis of miips. miip nanostructures were developed using fe3o4@ita as a novel magnetic core, ita as a functional monomer and chelating agent, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker, and aibn as an initiator. results and discussion: the tem image showed that the average particle size of the uniform fe3o4@ita mnps is about 7.10±0.51 nm. the ir spectrum of fe3o4@ita mnps shows vinyl groups peaking around 1631cm-1 which originates from the ita. the fesem image confirmed the well encapsulation of the produced magnetic nanoparticles in the polymer layer of the miip.conclusion: fe3o4@ita mnps have been well synthesized and the existence of a vinyl group on their surface has helped to accept the polymer layer in miip preparation.