Application of magnetic adsorbents based on iron oxide nanoparticles for oil spill remediation: A review

Oil pollution has posed a great threat to marine ecosystems and human health. In recent years, many studies have focused on the functionalization of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles to obtain efficient adsorbents for oil removal from water. This review focuses on recent studies on magnetic materials based on iron oxide nanoparticles and their applications as oil sorbents. The main techniques used to obtain iron oxide nanoparticles are also discussed. The aim of this literature review is to obtain a better understanding of the materials that could be used to obtain efficient oil adsorbents with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and suitable synthesis strategies by encapsulating iron oxides with organic or inorganic coatings or embedding them in a matrix/support. Another purpose is to identify the desirable characteristics of magnetic materials required for high oil removal efficiency. (C) 2019 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.