A simple and solvent-free method is proposed for synthesis of novel magnetic nano-sorbents. Dioctyl
phthalate (DOP) was used to encapsulate nano-Fe3O4 and produce a nano-Fe3O4-DOP sorbent. This was
treated with triethylenetetramine (TETA) in another solvent-free procedure for the formation of a novel
nano-Fe3O4-DOP-TETA. The synthesized nano-sorbents were characterized by FT-IR, TGA, SEM and HR-
TEM (3.0–12.0 nm). The magnetic solid phase sorption characteristics were studied and optimized. The
potential applications of these magnetic solid phase extractors for removal of Ni(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) from
drinking tap water, industrial wastewater and sea water samples were accomplished using a multi-stage
micro-column technique.
2014 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights