A novel route in the synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles

• A novel route in the preparation of magnetite nanoparticles is proposed.
• Iron choline citrate was used as starting chemical.
• The magnetite properties depend on the composition of the solvent.

A novel route in the synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles is reported. This synthesis is based on autoclaving of iron choline citrate dissolved in mixed water/ethanol or water solution and neutralized with NH4OH solution. The magnetite precipitates were characterized by XRD, Mössbauer, FT-IR, HRTEM and magnetometric measurements. All the precipitated magnetite particles were in the nanosize range as shown by HRTEM. They did not contain organic residues or any other iron (hydrous) oxide phase.