Zn-doped CoFe2O4Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Ginkgo Biloba Extract: Cation Distribution, Mossbauer Studies and Application for Water Treatment

The cobalt-zinc ferrites Zn1-xCoxFe2O4 (where x=0; 0.2; 0.4; 0.6; 0.8; 1.0) were obtained by green synthesis using Ginkgo Biloba extract as reductant and fuel. The cation distribution of the spinel ferrites has been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The surface morphology and elemental composition were analyzed by SEM and EDS. The crystallite size decrease with increasing Co2+ content calculated from Scherrer equation and Williamson-Hall method. Adsorption properties of the spinel system were investigated using Congo Red (CR) dye as model pollutant. It is concluded that the adsorption of Congo red dye molecules can occur due to electrostatic and donor-acceptor interactions with the adsorbent surface containing various amount of active centers.