Process for preparation of nanoparticles from magnetite ore
AssigneeSri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (PVT) Ltd.
InventorsVeranja Karunaratne, Gayan Priyadharshana, Sunanda Gunasekara, Nilwala Kottegoda, Atula Senaratne
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Abstract
The compositions and methods herein relate to stable dispersions of long chain carboxylic acid-stabilized magnetite nanoparticles dispersed in alcohol. These compositions are useful in advanced biomedical applications.
Claims5
A process for making magnetite nanoparticle dispersions, wherein substantially all of the nanoparticles have a particle size of about 32 nm, consisting of:
- (a) providing a magnetite ore;
- (b) destructuring the magnetite ore, wherein (i) the destructuring of the magnetic ore is done by grinding in a nano-grinder in the presence of oleic acid using at least one of tungsten carbide grinding balls or zirconium oxide grinding balls and (ii) the grinding is performed in an inert atmosphere with:
- 15 mm size tungsten carbide grinding balls at 700 rpm for about one hour,
- further grinding using 5 mm size tungsten carbide grinding balls at 700 rpm for about one hour,
- further grinding using 3 mm size zirconium oxide grinding balls at 1000 rpm for about one hour, and
- further grinding using 1 mm size zirconium oxide grinding balls at 1000 rpm for about one hour;
- (c) contacting the destructured magnetite ore with one of the group consisting of a long chain alkyl carboxylic acid, a natural oil containing long chain carboxylic acid carboxyl groups, and combinations thereof to form stabilized nanoparticles;
- and
- (d) dispersing the stabilized nanoparticles in alcoholic solvent.
A process for making magnetite nanoparticle dispersions, wherein substantially all of the nanoparticles have a particle size of about 21 nm, consisting of:
- (a) providing a magnetite ore;
- (b) destructuring the magnetite ore, wherein (i) the destructuring of the magnetic ore is done by grinding in a nano-grinder in the presence of oleic acid using at least one of tungsten carbide grinding balls or zirconium oxide grinding balls and (ii) the grinding is performed in an inert atmosphere with:
- 15 mm size tungsten carbide grinding balls at 700 rpm for about one hour,
- further grinding using 5 mm size tungsten carbide grinding balls at 700 rpm for about one hour,
- further grinding using 3 mm size zirconium oxide grinding balls at 1000 rpm for about one hour,
- further grinding using 1 mm size zirconium oxide grinding balls at 1000 rpm for about one hour, and
- further grinding using 0.5 mm size zirconium oxide grinding balls at 1000 rpm for about one hour;
- (c) contacting the destructured magnetite ore with one of the group consisting of a long chain alkyl carboxylic acid, a natural oil containing long chain carboxylic acid carboxyl groups, and combinations thereof to form stabilized nanoparticles;
- and
- (d) dispersing the stabilized nanoparticles in alcoholic solvent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.