TITLE:
Compositional, Structural, Surface Characterizations of Natural Magnetite from Air Massif (Niger) in Relation to Its Catalytic Activity
AUTHORS:
Mamane Souley Abdoul Aziz, Adouby Kopoin, Ousmane Mahamane Sani
KEYWORDS:
Magnetic, Mineral Composition, Structural, Surface Area
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.8 No.4,
June
17,
2020
ABSTRACT: Ferrimagnetic materials such as natural magnetite are used for practical
applications because of their electronic, magnetic and catalytic properties in
the degradation of organic compounds. In order to determine its physicochemical
properties in relation to its catalytic activity, the natural magnetite of Ofoud Mount (Niger) is
characterized by X-ray florescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (DRX), specific
surface area (BET) and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR). The result shows an
iron content of 97.09% and a specific surface area of 69.742 m2/g.
The crystal structure of magnetite is cubic with lattice parameters α = β = γ = 90°, a (Å) = b (Å) = c (Å) =
8.3740. The results of this study suggest that the natural magnetite of Ofoud
Mount can be used as iron source in various fields of science despite the
presence of a few impurities that can improve its catalytic activity.