One-step solvothermal synthesis of epichlorohydrin-modified magnetic Fe3O4 microspheres in ethylene glycol

Surface modification is crucial for downstream applications of Fe3O4 microspheres (e.g., bio-separation, catalysis and drug delivery). In the present work, monodisperse magnetic Fe3O4 microspheres of ca. 0.42 mu m are prepared by one-step epichlorohydrin (ECH)-modified solvothermal synthesis in ethylene glycol. ECH is grafted onto the surface of Fe3O4 upon in-situ dehydrochlorination under basic conditions. The resulting surface groups (e.g., 1,2-dihydroxylpropyl) not only prevent Fe3O4 microspheres from aggregation, but also serve as anchoring sites for further functionalization, e.g., bind 14.9 mg/g of Cu2+ by releasing H+ into the aqueous solution. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.