Magnetic ‘rusty’ nanoparticles pull estrogen out of water
Iron oxide particles trap estrogen hormones, possibly limiting harm to aquatic life
![An illustration of a clump of iron oxide nanoparticles, illustrated in orange, coated with phosphonic acid, illustrated in gray. While a collection of green estrogen bits are scattered around.](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/081523_sw_smart_rust_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
Iron oxide nanoparticles (one illustrated, orange) coated with phosphonic acid molecules (gray) can capture estrogen hormones (green) from water samples.
Dustin Vivod and Dirk Zahn/Computer Chemistry Center/Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg