Nanocomposite cellulosics prepared by the in situ synthesis of ferrites

Superparamagnetic cellulosics were prepared by the in situ synthesis of nanoscale ferrites. The internal reaction volume of cellulosic matrices served as compartments for the controlled precipitation of iron oxides, biomimicking magnetic bacteria such as Aquispirillum magnetotacticum. Nanocomposites were prepared from a range of materials, both ionic and nonionic. The ionics were sulfonated thermomechanical wood pulp (TMP), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), calcium alginate fibres and chemically modified rayon tirecord, in addition to a model synthetic system which consisted of a Nafion...