E3S Web of Conferences 443, 05005 (2023) https://doi.org/10.

1051/e3sconf/202344305005
ETESD-II 2023

Synthesis of a cost-effective magnetic

nanoparticles coated sugarcane bagasse and
testing tetracycline removal capacity
Ta Thi Huong*, and Tran Y Doan Trang
HaUI Institute of Technology – Hanoi University of Industry, Vietnam

Abstract. This study describes a modified method to prepare nanomagnetic

coated sugarcane bagasse. Under the general chemicals: iron (II) sulphate
heptahydrate (FeSO4.7H2O); sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, and iron
(III) chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3.6H2O) these were commercially available
and a simple method, authors were successfully synthesized Fe3O4
nanoparticles coated sugarcane bagasse. These nanoparticles were
heterogenous and formed nanoclusters on the sugarcane bagasse surface
under Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis. Herein, we show that given
the right experimental circumstances, the novel and prospective
nanomagnetic sugarcane bagasse might prove to be an intriguing adsorbent
for a variety of applications. For tetracycline removal case study: the studied
material was significantly adsorbed this contaminant with the highest
adsorption capacity was 15 mg/g under 25 mg/L initial tetracycline
concentration; pH 6; equilibrium time: 15 hours; and magnetic nanoparticle
sugarcane bagasse: 1 g/L. The fundamental result in the research denotes
that the material could be a potential adsorbent for eliminating various
contaminants in upcoming studies.

1 Introduction
Nanomaterials-related technological developments present a fresh challenge for the design
of new materials and their use in remediation, catalysis, and medical applications [1]. Iron
oxide nanoparticles, like magnetite (Fe3O4), maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), and hematite (α-Fe2O3),
are increasingly common in nature and are primarily used as nano-adsorbents. One of the
naturally occurring iron compounds with the highest abundance and most significant use is
magnetite, which is also biocompatible [1-3].
Intriguing properties of magnetite include its superparamagnetic behaviour at ambient
temperature, biocompatibility, lack of toxicity, and biodegradability. Environmental clean-
up procedures have used magnetite nanoparticles in-situ and ex-situ cancer therapeutic
applications [3-4]. Additionally, research on Fe3O4 nano-fluids has become more popular in
areas that are polluted by petroleum. Additionally, magnetite can quicken a number of bio-
upgrading procedures in the petroleum industry [5]. Given their exceptional properties and
high surface-to-volume ratio, nanomaterials are particularly intriguing for use in water

* Corresponding author: tahuong.hus@gmail.com

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
E3S Web of Conferences 443, 05005 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202344305005
ETESD-II 2023

purification applications [6]. Due to its numerous cutting-edge uses, such as wastewater
treatment, iron oxide nanoparticles have become common in nanomaterials. One of the most
common varieties of iron oxide nanoparticles is magnetite. Furthermore, the heavy metal ion
in water may be absorbed by magnetite nanoparticles.
Nanoparticles' vital magnetic properties greatly determine the potential uses for which
they may be applied. For instance, iron oxide nanoparticles larger than 28 nm can be
employed for magnetic isolation since they are ferric-magnetic [4-6]. Iron oxide that is
smaller than 28 nm, however, is super-paramagnetic at ambient temperature. Magnetite has
also been used in the past to extract crude oil from pores during improved oil recovery [5-6].
Researchers are particularly interested in studying various ways of magnetic nanoparticle
manufacturing and characterization based on these features and qualities.
Magnetic nanoparticle materials with the necessary magnetic characteristics, such as
magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, are mostly used in biomedical applications. The three
main benefits are cost, stability, and compatibility; magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are
cheap to make, have enough physical and chemical stability, are biocompatible, and are safe
for the environment [5-7]. The potential for their particular bio applications, such as magnetic
separation, targeted drug administration, MRI, magneto-ion-conducting fluid hyperthermia
and chemoablation, and biosensing, is crucial [8].
As effective adsorbents for pollutant removal, magnetic nanoparticles coated on various
materials have also been used in numerous investigations. As an illustration, Cd(II), Ni(II),
and Cu(II) were among the ion metals in water that magnetic nanoparticles coated cationic
resin to bind to [1]. Tetracycline is removed from water using iron-magnetic coated pine bark
[8]. To treat Ni and Co in water, modified polyurethane-magnetic nanoparticles have been
used as an adsorbent [2]. Arsenic removal from aqueous solution utilizing rice husks coated
with iron oxide [3]. For Cd(II) sorption, a nanomagnetic walnut shell was created [4], etc. An
innovative nano magnetic adsorbent composite material made from sugarcane bagasse was
created in this study. It could be a potential adsorbent which can be utilized to eliminate
various contaminants in wastewater such as tetracycline which was selected in this presented
study.

2 Materials and method

2.1 Materials
Analytical grade chemicals were used in this study, the iron (II) sulphate heptahydrate
(FeSO4.7H2O) and tetracycline were purchased from the website sigmaaldrich.com. Sodium
hydroxide, hydrochloric acid from Vietchem company and iron (III) chloride hexahydrate
(FeCl3.6H2O) were bought from Xilong Chemical company.

2.2 Preparation and synthesis magnetic nanoparticles – sugarcane bagasse

(M-SB)
Sugarcane bagasse was gathered from a rural area in Hanoi City, Vietnam. The raw material
was washed many times with hot water many times to removal impurities, after that dried
(700C) in two days. And then, the material was soaked with sodium hydroxide 1M for 4 hours
and washed with DI water until the pH reached neutral. Continuously, dried the milled
material in an oven under 600C for two days. The dried sugarcane bagasse was milled and
sieved to get the synchronized size (100 µm). This powder was stored into a plastic bag.
The synthesis magnetic – sugarcane bagasse was built based on the chemical reaction:
FeSO4.7H2O + 2FeCl3.6H2O + 8NaOH → Fe3O4 + Na2SO4 + 6NaCl + 23H2O

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The following procedures were used to prepare the M-SB modification: The following
steps were taken to prepare the solution: (1) add 5 grams of powdered sugarcane bagasse to
100 mL of distilled water; (2) prepare a solution with 10 grams of FeCl3.6H2O and 7.2 grams
of FeSO4.7H2O in 400 mL of DI water; (3) stirring the solution until the chemicals were
completely dissolved in the water; (4) combine the two solutions at room temperature (around
260C); and (5) stirring the combined solution while gradually adding dropwise NaOH 3M.
Throughout this procedure, the pH was tested till it reached 10; (6) The suspension was
heated under 800C for two hours, changing the colour of the solution from brown to black;
(7) The solid was filtered and rinsed with distilled water multiple times; Ultimately, the solid
was dried in an oven under 700C for one day.

3 Results and discussions

3.1 Morphology of magnetic nanoparticle sugarcane bagasse

The treated sugarcane bagasse with NaOH and nano-magnetic sugarcane bagasse were
analysed under SEM analysis (Figure 1). Figure 1a indicates that the sugarcane bagasse shield
was dug and significantly broken up. The surface was rough and small piece was overlapped
- making a heterogeneous surface. This is a good signal so that after synthesis, nano particles
can be embedded deep into the holes and cracks of the surface.
Following precipitation, distilled water was used to clean and filter the Fe3O4
nanoparticles before they were eventually dried at 70°C. Temperature, concentration, drop
time, and pH level of the precipitation were all carefully regulated factors that affected the
mean particle size. In Figure 2, the shape of nanomagnetic sugarcane bagasse is depicted. In
Figure 2, the SEM picture of sugarcane bagasse with a nanomagnetic coating is displayed. In
this case study, it displays a typical aggregation of magnetic nanoparticles.

(a) (b)
Fig. 1. (a) the treated sugarcane bagasse with NaOH (100 µm); (b) the treated sugarcane bagasse with
NaOH (200 µm).

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(a) (b)
Fig 2. (a) Magnetic nanoparticle coated treated sugarcane bagasse (200 µm); Magnetic nanoparticle
coated treated sugarcane bagasse (500 nm).

3.2 Tetracycline removal by magnetic nanoparticle sugarcane bagasse

The fundamental investigation of tetracycline removal by magnetic nanoparticle sugarcane
bagasse was presented in this section. The residual tetracycline in the initial solutions was
measured by UV-Vis (Genesys 10S model, Thermo Scientific Co.) under the wavelength 355
nm.
Effect of contact time was studied under the initial tetracycline concentration 25 mg/L,
contact time 5; 10; 15; 20; and 30 hours; the studied material concentration 1 g/L at room
temperature. The amount of tetracycline adsorption was rapidly increased from starting hour
to 10 hours. When higher contact time investigation, the tetracycline removal was slightly
changed. Since, the equilibrium adsorption time was chosen at 15 hour which was used in
the upcoming tests.

Fig. 3. Effect of contact time on tetracycline removal by magnetic nanoparticle sugarcane bagasse.
Effect of pH on tetracycline removal
Under the initial tetracycline concentration 25 mg/L; magnetic nanoparticle sugarcane
bagasse concentration 1 g/L; pH: 3, 6, and 9; contact time: 15 hours at room temperature
some results were reported in Figure 3 below.

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E3S Web of Conferences 443, 05005 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202344305005
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Fig. 4. Effect of pH on tetracycline removal by magnetic nanoparticle sugarcane bagasse.

The tetracycline removal capacity was increased when pH from 3 to 6. The maximum
tetracycline adsorption was 15.02 mg/g at pH 6. At higher pH the tetracycline elimination
was rapidly decreased. Hence, it denotes that pH can significantly influence on tetracycline
removal (Figure 4).

4 Conclusion
Magnetic nanoparticles are widely used in various fields such as disoperation; sensing;
adsorption; biomedical; etc. Therefore, synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles has been created
by many ways. Scientific articles on magnetic materials are appearing more frequently, which
suggests that the scientific community as a whole is becoming more interested in the subject.
The manufacture of magnetic materials with the necessary size, shape, chemical composition,
and surface chemistry has advanced significantly. The coating gives magnetic materials
physical and chemical stability.
The authors of this study described an easy and efficient technique for producing
sugarcane bagasse that has been coated with nanomagnets. Synthesized Fe3O4 nanoparticles
are used in the process as a supporting element to create a promising material for removing
pollutants from water. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the
morphology of nanomagnetic sugarcane bagasse. The formation of micro clusters of Fe3O4
nanoparticles. It contains spherical, 500 nm-sized nanomagnetic sugarcane bagasse particles,
which may be creating a polymeric matrix during the polymerization process that disperses
magnetite nanoparticles. Two prospective materials are mixed to create a potential adsorbent
that may be effective at removing pollutants from water.
Based on preliminary test the tetracycline adsorption by magnetic nanoparticle sugarcane
bagasse was revealed some major results: the tetracycline removal was reached the optimal
value: 15 mg/g under the tetracycline concentration: 25 mg/L; pH 6; contact time 15 hour;
adsorbent dosage: 1 g/L at room temperature. It indicates that magnetic nanoparticle
sugarcane bagasse could be a potential adsorbent for tetracycline removal.

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