Controlled-size
maghemite (γ-Fe2O3)
nanoparticles (NPs) were functionalized with zeolite 5A and cetyltrimethylammonium
bromide (CTAB) by the co-precipitation method. The in situ and after
NPs synthesis procedures were used to obtain five different nanomaterials
that were broadly characterized by various physicochemical methods
to ensure magnetic remediation properties. γ-Fe2O3 NPs with sizes ranging from 4.5 to 12 nm were obtained for
bare NPs and also dispersed in matrices of zeolites and CTAB. Acute
toxicity tests were systematically performed in the freshwater biomarker
microcrustacean Daphnia magna to figure out the impact
of these nanohybrids in living beings that are part of real effluents.
The lethal concentrations were found to range from 103.2 mg L−1for bare γ-Fe2O3 NPs to
0.5 mg L–1 for the series of nanohybrids studied
here. Morphological analysis of living beings showed some significant
changes in their vital structures (heart and eye) and some malformations
in some part of their eyes. This study has provided novel information
on the magnetic properties of bare and functionalized iron oxide based
NPs and, more relevant, their interactions and impacts on the cladoceran D. magna under controlled conditions that could be expanded
to real environments after industrial water treatment.
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