Applications of Thermoresponsive Magnetic Nanoparticles

Figure 4

Application of thermoresponsive MNPs as FO draw solute in water desalination. The polyelectrolyte present in the thermoresponsive polymer creates an osmotic pressure which leads to the flux of water from seawater through the membrane towards the draw solution. Setting temperature above LCST leads to shrinking of the polymer and dehydration of the draw solute, and thermoresponsive MNPs could be separated and regenerated with the application of magnetic field (reproduced with permission of publisher, American Chemical Society, copyright 2013, from [73]).