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A general chemistry laboratory experiment using readily available chemicals is described to introduce college students to an exciting class of nanocomposite materials. In a one-step room temperature synthetic process, magnetite nanoparticles are embedded onto activated carbon matrix. The resultant nanocomposite has been shown to combine the adsorption ability of the activated carbon and the magnetic properties of the magnetite nanoparticles, enabling its application as a fast, effective, low-cost, and recyclable aromatic water pollutant adsorbent. This quality is illustrated by its rapid removal of the surrogate "pollutants", made of several dyes in the Fisher universal indicator, within 2−3 min. A successful "pollutant" removal is indicated by the absence of the rainbow colors because of the presence of the "pollutants" in the "polluted" water when different quantities of an acid or a base are added. The nanocomposite's reusability as the "pollutant" adsorbent is demonstrated after its used surface is regenerated using ethanol as the extracting solvent. The exercise allows students to (i) gain awareness of timely environmental issues; (ii) be exposed to the modern field of nanoscience; and (iii) appreciate the roles new and advanced materials play in keeping our water clean. Students have fun working in the lab and find the experience interesting and motivating. The experiment is also suitable for advanced high school students.

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Silica coating of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) is of great importance because it offers stability to MNPs against oxidation, water dispersity, and a tailorable surface for functionalities, allowing a wide range of applications in areas such as water pollutant removal and targeted drug delivery. In this work, a simple and green procedure has been developed using water, instead of traditional alcohols, as the solvent in the Stober method to produce well-dispersed MNPs coated with ultrathin (<5 nm) silica outer shells. The resultant core–shell structures possess superparamagnetic properties, high magnetization value of 59 emu/g, and excellent resistance to oxidation when exposed to ultrasonic-accelerated oxidation. The oxidation stability of the coated MNPs is shown to extend to their functionalized product. All syntheses are carried out under ambient conditions using commonly available chemicals and equipment. The Fe3O4@SiO2 core–shell structures are characterized using Fourier transform infrared–attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and a vibrating sample magnetometer.

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