Effect of Sintering on Structural, Morphological, Magnetic Properties and Cr(VI) Adsorption of Cobalt Substituted MnFe2O4 Nanoparticles

MnFe2O4 and Mn0.4Co0.6Fe2O4 samples at pH 11 and sintering temperatures 300 degrees C, 600 degrees C and 900 degrees C, were prepared by co-precipitation technique. All properties of the samples are highly dependent on sintering temperature. The samples were analyzed using XRD to study the particle size and crystalline nature, and both increase with increasing sintering temperatures. The SEM micrographs were studied in order to analyze the morphology and surface structure of the samples. The images show the presence of amorphous powders at lower temperatures and highly ordered and well defined particles of larger particle size at higher temperatures. The FTIR peaks show bending and stretching of characteristic bonds in the samples. The magnetic studies were carried out using VSM and show soft magnetic nature with increasing magnetic properties at higher sintering temperatures. Batch adsorption studies were conducted to find Cr(VI) adsorption efficiency of the samples. The adsorption efficiency depends on quantity of adsorbent, initial concentration of adsorbate and the sintering temperatures of ferrite samples.