Recycling of cast iron metal shavings to obtain iron nanopowders of divers’ applications in nanotechnology

Description

Within the area of nanotechnology, the preparation of iron and iron oxide nanoparticles recently gained great interest due to the particularities of their optical, magnetic, electrical and catalytic properties. Interest in magnetic nanoparticles has been growing due to the wide range of applications they have, ranging from applications in biomedicine and cancer treatments to magnetic resonance imaging, gas sensors, ion exchangers, wastewater treatment, UV blocking, methane production in biodigesters. This research presents the results of the recycling of cast iron chips and their transformation into iron nanoparticles and iron oxide using top-down and bottom-up technology. The nanoparticles obtained have an iron content between 93 to 99.43%, a size in the range of 30 and 200 nanometers, rounded and regular, were applied in the remediation of water contaminated with heavy metals, in industrial processes it was possible to remove chromium in 90%. It was also applied in mining effluents, cadmium was removed in a percentage of 84.27, lead in a percentage of 4.42 and zinc in a percentage of 92.74.