Preferential catalytic ozonation of p-nitrophenol by molecularly imprinted Fe3O4/SiO2 core-shell magnetic composites

Molecularly imprinted Fe 3 O 4 /SiO 2 core-shell magnetic composites (Fe 3 O 4 /SiO 2 -MIP) were successfully prepared via anchoring p -nitrophenol ( p -NP) imprinted functional polymers on the surface of amino-modified Fe 3 O 4 /SiO 2 core-shell particles. Synthesized magnetic Fe 3 O 4 /SiO 2 -MIP composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and magnetic property measurement. The preferential catalytic ozonation of p -nitrophenol was evaluated in comparison with the competitive reaction in the presence of coexistent phenol. The results showed that the prepared Fe 3 O 4 /SiO 2 -MIP composites exhibit strong adsorption ability due to the strong bonding between p -NP and the molecularly imprinted layer. The Fe 3 O 4 /SiO 2 -MIP demonstrated a preferential catalytic ozonation of p -NP by the recognition ability of the molecularly imprinted layer to the target p -NP. The enhanced catalytic activity using Fe 3 O 4 /SiO 2 -MIP composites could be attributed to the excellent recognition absorption of the MIP layer on the surface of Fe 3 O 4 /SiO 2 -MIP to p -NP.