what i experiance is,,magnetic metal particles can gather at one place in liquid ,like i collected nickel nanoparticles,,,keep a container on magnet for few hours and then pour upper layers of water.then by using centrifuge u can collect it.
I have used SPIONs (super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles), thus I have of interest your question regarding zvi nanoparticles!
Indeed, these NPs are of interest for many applications as it comes from the State of the Art, including the magnetic separation. Please consider bellow some selected information.
Good luck in finding the best info and best regards,
Marius
PS: For eventual help:
Review:
Magnetic nanoparticles: Essential factors for sustainable environmental applications, Water Res. 2013 May 15;47(8):2613-32. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.02.039
Huang P1, et al., Rapid magnetic removal of aqueous heavy metals and their relevant mechanisms using nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) particles,
Water Res. 2013 Aug 1;47(12):4050-8. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.01.054. Epub 2013 Mar 22.
Assessment of Influence of Magnetic Forces on Aggregation of Zero-valent Iron Nanoparticles
January 2011Nanoscale Research Letters 6(1), DOI: 10.1007/s11671-010-9753-4