Effect of cobalt substitution on structural and magnetic properties and chromium adsorption of manganese ferrite nano particles

Manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) and cobalt doped manganese ferrite (Mn1−xCoxFe2O4) with x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 are synthesized at pH 11 and an annealing temperature of 900 °C, through co-precipitation technique. The particle sizes are found to be in the range of 30-35 nm. The varying dopant concentrations influence the crystalline edges, surface morphology and magnetic properties of the samples. Particle size initially increases for the incorporation of cobalt up to x=0.6 and then decreases. As cobalt concentration increases, the saturation magnetization increases up to x=0.6 and then decreases. Stretching and bending of bonds at tetrahedral and octahedral sites respectively are noticed and they shift towards the longer wavelengths. The samples are tested for their application as adsorbents of toxic heavy metal Cr(VI). The adsorption efficiency variations with dopant concentrations of samples, quantity of adsorbent and concentrations of chromium are studied.