A New Method of Preparation of Magnetite Nanoparticles from Iron Oxide Hydroxide Available to Purchase

There are only two basic ways to produce magnetite at low temperature: by partial oxidation of a Fe^II salt solution with oxidant under alkaline condition and by precipitation of a mixed Fe^II/Fe^III solution. At high temperature, the method involves reduction of iron oxide by a suitable reductant. Here we propose a new method of preparation of nanoparticle Fe₃O₄ from iron oxyhydroxides (goethite, akaganeite, lepidocrocite, feroxyhyte and ferrihydrite) or iron oxide (hematite) and ferrous salt in aqueous solution. Products characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction, IR spectra and vibrating sample magentometery.