Synthesis and Characterization of Nano-crystaline CaFe2O4 via Solution Combustion Method from Solid Waste Egg Shells as Source of Calcium

Abstract

The liable application of solid egg shell waste obtained from food processing industry into biocompatible calcium ferrite nano materials will put in significance to the waste generated.Million tons of egg shell waste are produced every day which has contributed to environmental pollution.In this framework blending of nanotechnology with science, ensuing green chemistry moralities has led to arrival of innovative and improved technologies in the field of material science. Our present work aims at synthesis of calcium ferrite nanoparticles by solution combustion method using waste egg shells as source of calcium, ferric nitrate as Fe precursor in presence of urea as fuel at 500oc. Obtained calcium ferrites nanoparticles were annealed 900oc and  characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscope, Scanning electron microscope, BET, and Vibrating sample magnetometer. XRD results for the sample annealed at 900oc show the formation of calcium ferrites with octahedral structure of crystallite size 10nm and exhibit mixed spherical and capsule morphology. BET surface area of 6.93m2/g with total pore volume of 0.00381 cm3/g  and average pore diameter of 2.19nm is obtained.  M-H curve for calcium ferrites annealed at 900oc shows hardly hysteresis behavior under applied magnetic field. Magnetic saturation and Coercive magnetic field strength found to be low which implies that material acts as soft ferrites. Thus their magnetization can easily be reversed without dissipating much energy. Hence the process of transforming eggshell waste into nanocrystaline calcium ferrite is an ecofriendly process, besides; the present work may lead to generation of high valuable ferrite which is applicable in various fields of engineering.