A novel magnetically recoverable silver nano-catalyst was fabricated by the adsorption-reduction of Ag(I) ions on the surface of hydroxyapatite encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles. The magnetic catalyst could be easily separated by the application of an external magnetic field. The samples have been characterized by VSM. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), which reveal the superparamagnetic nano-nature of the particles. From these studies we can infer that the particles are mostly spherical in shape and have an average size of 10 nm. The catalytic ability of the Ag nanoparticles supported on the magnetic nanocarier was found to be excellent and they cleanly oxidize primary amines to N-monoalkylated hydroxylamines. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.