Magnetically controllable sponges for crude oil, mercury, and arsenic removal

Dr Panagiotis Dallas (Senior Researcher, Grade B’) of the TPCI/NHRF is the leading author of the original research paper “Magnetically controllable sponges for crude oil, mercury, and arsenic removal“, P. Bika, N. Todorova, M-A. Gatou, M. Pissas, E. Devlin, E. Sakellis, N. Boukos, N. Lagopati, T. Lymperopoulou, L-A. Tsakanika, E,A. Pavlatou, V.Κ. Τzitzios and P. Dallas* in the leading journal of environmental science Environ. Sci.: Νano, 2026, 13, 280–295.

This research work focuses on functional, modified, melamine sponges for water remediation. The sponges inherit sufficient magnetization to be directed by an external magnetic field after the incorporation of iron oxide nanoparticles. The materials present significant initial adsorption capacities of crude oil up to 100 g g^-1 and they can also remove mercury and arsenic cation under dynamic conditions of constant flow.