Nanophase MnFe2O4 synthasis

Nanophase MnFe₂O₄ were synthesized through a titration/precipitation method and utilized for the removal of Cadmium from aqueous solution as a possible method for drinking water treatment. The nanomaterial had both magnetic and chemical binding properties to the heavy metal Cadmium. The synthesized nano MnFe₂O₄ was characterized using X-ray Diffraction at both drying temperatures 80 ^oC and 150 ^oC.  Batch pH experiments were performed to determine the optimum pH for the binding using 300 ppb of Cadmium and 10mg MnFe₂O₄ at both 150 ºC and 80 ºC with 1hr contact time.  The binding was observed to be pH dependent from pH 2 thru pH 6 and an optimum binding was determined to be at pH 4, and a drop in binding at pH 3 and pH 2, was observed.  Using the optimal binding pH 4, further batch Isotherm studies were performed of 1hr and 24hr contact times, using MnFe₂O₄ at 150 ºC and 80 ºC reacting concentrations of 2, 20, 50, 100, 200 ppm to determine the binding capacity of Cadmium to the nanomaterial.  The isotherms were plotted and the Langmuir equation was used to calculate for capacity (mg/g), the mass of Cadmium that bound to the nanomaterial. The Cadmium capacities with contact times of 1hr and 24hr were determined to be (mg/g) 28.6 ± 0.5, 83.3±1.4, 52.6 ±3.4 and 222.2 ±4.1 mg/g at 80 ºC and 150 ºC respectively.