PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ZERO VALENT IRON NANOPARTICLES

Abstract

In the present work, nano scaled zero valent irons (nZVI) were synthesized in ethanol medium by the method of ferric iron reduction using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent under atmospheric conditions. The obtained iron nanoparticles are mainly in zero valent oxidation state and remain without significant oxidation for weeks. A systematic characterization of nZVI was performed using UV, XRD, SEM, TEM, PSA and BET studies. The obtained iron nanoparticles consist of a zero valent core surrounding a rest oxide shell. The diameter of iron nanoparticles was predominantly within the range 50-100 nm.