Nanostructured magnetite-ceria-based composite: Synthesis, calcination, properties, and applications

Magnetite and magnetite/ceria composites prepared by chemical procedures in various mutual ratios were exposed to calcination treatment in a temperature interval between 473 K and 1073 K. A combination of several experimental methods has provided detailed structural, phase, and magnetic properties utilisable for selection of optimal compositions and calcination conditions from the viewpoint of degradation ability tested using parathion methyl and paraoxon. It was shown that the ceria content, selected between 5 wt% and 50 wt%, influences magnetic properties. Its optimal amount was determined to be above 20 wt% and the calcination temperature of 773 K when the highest rate constant, slightly above 0.06 min−1, was obtained for parathion methyl in acetonitrile using a degradation test.