Mineralogical analysis of auriferous ores from the El Diamante mine, Colombia

X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectrometry (MS), secondary ions mass spectroscopy (SIMS) and laser-ablation microprobe–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LAM–ICP–MS) were used to study mineral samples of Colombian auriferous ores collected from the “El Diamante” mine, located in the municipality of Guachavez-Nariño, in Colombia. The samples were prepared as polished thin sections and polished sections. From XRD data, quartz, sphalerite and pyrite were detected and their respective cell parameters were estimated. From MS analyses, pyrite, arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite were identified; their respective hyperfine parameters and respective texture were deduced. Multiple regions of approximately 200 × 200 μm in each sample were analyzed with SIMS; the occurrence of “invisible gold” associated mainly with pyrite and secondarily with arsenopyrite could thus be assigned. It was also found that pyrite is of the arsenious type. Spots from 30 to 40 μm in diameter were analyzed with LAM–ICP–MS for pyrite, arsenopyrite and sphalerite; Au is “homogeneously” distributed inside the structure of the arsenious pyrite and the arsenopyrite (not as inclusions); the chemical composition indicates similarities of this “invisible gold”, forming a solid solution with arsenious pyrite and arsenopyrite. One hundred nineteen and 62 ppm of ‘invisible gold’ was quantified in 21 spots analyzed on pyrite and in 14 spots on arsenopyrite, respectively.     

Structural and Electronic Properties Study of Colombian Aurifer Soils by Mössbauer Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction

In this work a study on gold mineral samples is reported, using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS). The auriferous samples are from the El Diamante mine, located in Guachavez-Nariño (Colombia) and were prepared by means of polished thin sections. The petrography analysis registered the presence, in different percentages that depend on the sample, of pyrite, quartz, arsenopyirite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena. The XRD analysis confirmed these findings through the calculated cell parameters. One typical Rietveld analysis showed the following weight percent of phases: 85.0% quartz, 14.5% pyrite and 0.5% sphalerite. In this sample, MS demonstrated the presence of two types of pyrite whose hyperfine parameters are δ ₁ = 0.280 ± 0.002 mm/s and Δ ₁ = 0.642 ± 0.002 mm/s, δ ₂ = 0.379 ± 0.002 mm/s and Δ ₂ = 0.613 ± 0.002 mm/s.     

Influence of differential stress on the galvanic interaction of pyrite–chalcopyrite

The effect of stress action on pyrite–chalcopyrite galvanic corrosion was investigated using polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. When stress increased from 0 to 4?×?10⁵ Pa, the corrosion current density of pyrite–chalcopyrite increased from 5.678 to 6.719 μA cm^?2, and the corrosion potential decreased from 281.634 to 270.187 mV, accompanied by a decrease in polarization resistance from 25.09 to 23.79 Ω·cm². EIS results show there have three time constants in the Nyquist diagrams, which indicated the presence of different steps during the corrosion process. Stress dramatically enhanced pyrite–chalcopyrite galvanic corrosion by affecting the Cu_1???x Fe_1???y S₂ film and the double layer, whereas had little impact on the adsorption species. When the stress changed from 0 to 4?×?10⁵ Pa, the pore resistance and capacitance of the Cu_1???x Fe_1???y S₂ film, R _p and Q _p, changed by 25.72 and 72.28 %, respectively. The adsorption species resistance, R _sl, and capacitance, Q _sl, only changed by 9.77 and 2.31 %, respectively.     

Mössbauer study of new vanadate glass with large charge-discharge capacity

Charge-discharge capacity and cyclicity of lithium ion battery (LIB) was evaluated in which 15Li₂O·10Fe₂O₃·xSnO₂·5P₂O₅·(70–x)V₂O₅ glass (x?=?0 and 20 in mol%, abbreviated as xLFSPV) was used as a cathode. A local structure of xLFSPV glass before and after charging was investigated by ⁵⁷Fe- and ¹¹⁹Sn-Mössbauer spectroscopies. ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectrum of xLFSPV glass with ‘x’ of 20 was composed of a doublet with isomer shift (δ) of 0.35_±0.02 mm s^???1 and quadrupole splitting (Δ) of 0.88_±0.03 mm s^???1 due to distorted Fe^IIIO₄ tetrahedra. ¹¹⁹Sn-Mössbauer spectrum of this glass consisted of a doublet with δ of 0.08_±0.01 and Δ of 0.52_±0.01 mms^???1 due to distorted Sn^VIO₆ octahedra. After discharging the battery from 4.5 to 1.0 V, larger δ of 0.40_±0.03 mm s^???1 and Δ of 0.94_±0.04 mm s^???1 were obtained, indicating that both iconicity of Fe-O bonds and local distortion of Fe^IIIO₄ tetrahedra were increased. On the contrary, identical δ of 0.09_±0.01 mm s^???1 and Δ of 0.50_±0.01 mm s^???1 were observed in the ¹¹⁹Sn-Mössbauer spectrum of 20LFSPV glass after the discharge, indicating that chemical environment of Sn^IVO₆ octahedra was not affected after the discharge. Charge-discharge curve of LIB containing 20LFSPV glass as a cathode active material recorded under the current density of 8.3 mA g^???1 (0.011 mA cm^???2) between 1.0 and 4.5 V showed a large initial charge capacity of 431.1 mAh g^???1 and discharge capacity of 382.3 mAh g^???1, respectively. These results indicate that 20LFSPV glass could be a new cathode active material for LIB.     

The microwave spectrum,structure and nuclear quadrupole coupling constants for stibabenzene

The microwave spectrum of 121-SbC₅H₅, 123-SbC₅H₅, β-dideutero 121-SbC₅H₃D₂ and 123-SbC₅H₃D₂ has been assigned in the region 26.5–40.0 GHz. The respective rotational constants and uncertainties are: A = 4512.69 ± 0.42, B = 1738.00 ± 0.01, C = 1254.51 ± 0.01; A = 4512.84 ± 0.30, B = 1729.80 ± 0.01, C = 1250.22 ± 0.01; A = 4176.18 ± 0.33, B = 1660.94 ± 0.01, C = 1188.15 ± 0.01; A = 4176.60 ± 0.61, B = 1652.94 ± 0.03, C = 1184.03 ± 0.03 (in MHz units). The structure is found to be planar, C_2v in symmetry. The $\text{d(}\text{Sb-C}\text{) = 2.050 ± 0.005}\text{A}\text{?}$ and ∠CSbC = 92.9° ± 1.0°. The nuclear quadrupole coupling constants for the 121 and 123 antimony isotopes are χ_aa = 456.4 ± 4.1 MHz, η = 0.396 ± 0.008, and χ_aa = 583.00 ± 5.3 MHz, η = 0.399 ± 0.008, respectively. Several alternate techniques using the coupling constants as data support a σ-donating property for antimony.     

Using a wide-aperture argon ion beam to finish the outer surfaces of tubular samples

The effect ion-beam treatment with a wide-aperture beam of argon ions has on the outer surfaces of tubular samples is investigated. Samples are treated on the specialized KVK-10 installation. Experiments are performed for tubes 500 mm in length (Ø9.15 mm; wall thickness, 0.65 mm) made of E110 zirconium alloy that are used in the nuclear power industry as the shells of fuel elements. Analysis of the samples shows that surfaces can cleaned and polished via ion-beam treatment, and roughness R _a can be reduced from 2.0 ± 0.5 μm to 0.6 ± 0.1 μm.     

Electrical conductivity and local structure of lithium tin iron vanadate glass

A relationship between electrical conductivity (σ) and local structure of 15Li₂O·10Fe₂O₃·xSnO₂·(70–x)V₂O₅·5P₂O₅ glass (x = 0–20 mol%), abbreviated as xLFSVP glass, was investigated by ⁵⁷Fe- and ¹¹⁹Sn-Mössbauer spectroscopies, differential thermal analysis (DTA) and dc-four probe method. A small increase in quadrupole splitting (Δ) for Fe^III was observed from 0.70 to 0.74_{± 0.02} mm s^???1 with an increase of “x”, whereas isomer shift (Δ) values of 0.40_±0.01 mm s^???1 were independent of “x”. This result suggests that local distortion of Fe^IIIO₄ tetrahedra was slightly increased in SnO₂-containing vanadate glasses, which was reflected as an increase in glass transition temperature (T_g) from 266 to 285_±5 °C. A slope of 675 K / (mm s^???1) obtained in ‘T_g vs. Δ plot’ proved that Fe^III occupied the site of network former (NWF). An isothermal annealing of 10LFSVP glass at 500 °C for 100 min resulted in a marked decrease of Δ from 0.72 to 0.56_±0.02 mm s^???1, indicating that local distortion of FeO₄ tetrahedra was reduced by the structural relaxation of 3D-network. In contrast, identical δ and Δ values of 0.07_±0.01 and 0.53_±0.02 mms^???1, respectively, were observed in ¹¹⁹Sn-Mössbauer spectra of 10LFSVP glass before and after the annealing. These results indicate that Sn^IVO₆ octahedra are loosely bound in the glass matrix as a network modifier (NWM). A marked increase in σ from 7.4 × 10^???7 to 9.1 × 10^???3 S cm^???1 was observed in 20LFSVP glass after the isothermal annealing, indicating that structural relaxation of 3D-network evidently causes a marked increase in σ.     

Hydrometallurgical Extraction of Zinc and Copper – A 57Fe-Mössbauer and XRD Approach

The most commonly used route in the hydrometallurgical extraction of zinc and copper from a sulphide ore is the concentrate–roast–leach–electro winning process. In the present investigation a zinc–copper ore from the Maranda mine, located in the Murchison Greenstone Belt, South Africa, containing sphalerite (ZnS) and chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂), was studied. The ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectrum of the concentrate yielded pyrite, chalcopyrite and clinochlore, consistent with XRD data. Optimal roasting conditions were found to be 900°C for 3 h and the calcine produced contained according to X-ray diffractometry equal amounts of franklinite (ZnFe₂O₄) and zinc oxide (ZnO) and half the amount of willemite (Zn₂SiO₄). The Mössbauer spectrum showed predominantly franklinite (59%), hematite (6%) and other Zn- or Cu-depleted ferrites (35%). The latter could not be detected by XRD analyses as peak overlapping with other species occurred. Leaching was done with HCl, H₂SO₄ and HNO₃, to determine which process would result in maximum recovery of Zn and Cu. More than 80% of both were recovered by using either one of the three techniques. From the residue of the leaching, the Fe-compounds were precipitated and <1% of the Zn and Cu was not recovered.     

Mössbauer studies of 151Eu in europium oxalate, europium bissalen ammonium and europium benzoate

Although a number of europium water insoluble chelates have been prepared for several decades, the covalent nature of these compounds has never been established in any quantitative fashion. Shifts in the I.R. bands and conductivity measurements of these salts were hitherto used to qualitatively compare their molecular nature. In this communique we have used temperature coefficients of ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectra to determine the Debye temperatures (θ _D) of three europium chelates: namely europium oxalate, europium bissalen ammonium (recently reported) and europium benzoate and compared their θ _D with the measured θ _D of the known ionic EuF₃. Additionally, the mean square amplitude (<x ²) of these four compounds was computed and plotted as a function of temperature giving in each case a reasonable linear plot. It was interesting to note that the θ _D of the most ionic EuF₃ was greatest (283 ± 10 K) followed by the oxalate (166 ± 15 K), then the europium bissalen ammonium (133 ± 5 K) and lastly the europium benzoate with a θ _D of (105 ± 5 K).     

Synthesis and characterisation of the Fe(II–III) hydroxy-formate green rust

A new methodology was envisioned in order to prepare green rust compounds build on organic anions that could intervene in microbiologically influenced corrosion processes of iron and steel. The formate ion was chosen as an example. The formation of rust was simulated by the oxidation of aqueous suspensions of Fe(OH)₂ precipitated from Fe(II) lactate and sodium hydroxide, in the presence of sodium formate to promote the formation of the corresponding green rust. The evolution of the precipitate with time was followed by transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy at 15 K. It was observed that the initial hydroxide was transformed into a new GR compound. Its spectrum is composed of three quadrupole doublets, D ₁ (δ?=?1.28 mm s^?1, Δ?=?2.75 mm s^?1) and D ₂ (δ?=?1.28 mm s^?1, Δ?=?2.48 mm s^?1) that correspond to Fe(II) and D ₃ (δ?=?0.49 mm s^?1, Δ?=?0.37 mm s^?1) that corresponds to Fe(III). The relative area of D ₃, close to the proportion of Fe(III) in the GR, was found at 28.5?±?1.5% (～2/7). Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the intermediate compound was a Fe(II–III) hydroxy-formate, GR(HCOO^?).     

A static SIMS/TPD study of the kinetics of methoxy formation and decomposition on O/Pt(111)

The kinetics and mechanism of the decomposition of methanol (CH₃OD) on oxygen-covered Pt(111) were studied using static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD). The initial sticking coefficient and the saturation first layer coverage of CH₃OD are unity and 0.36 ML, respectively. The maximum amounts decomposed in TPD on O/Pt(111) and clean Pt(111) are 0.19 and 0.047 ML, respectively. At low methanol coverages (< 0.05 ML) on O/Pt(111) the only reaction products were CO₂, H₂O and D₂O, whereas at saturation CO, H₂O, D₂O and H₂ were observed. The decomposed amount did not saturate at or before the onset of molecular methanol desorption, but increeased monotonically until saturation of the first layer. No oxygen exchange was observed between CH₃OD and preadsorbed ¹⁸O. A decomposition mechanism involving methoxy and hydroxyl type species is proposed. Methanol coverages as low as 0.002 ML could be detected with SIMS. The CH₃⁺ ion was the most intense ion in the positive SIMS spectrum of both methanol and methoxy. Larger ion clusters such as (CH₃OD)_n⁺ (n = 2, 3) developed successively at specific multilayer coverages. At low coverages on O/Pt(111), methoxy formation occurs above 125 K and its decomposition becomes detectable above 150 K during temperature programming. In the isothermal mode, the SIMS CH₃⁺ ion was used to follow the kinetics. Over the temperature range 120–145 K, the second order Arrhenius rate parameters for methoxy formation are E = 5.5±0.7 kcal/mol and A = 1.5×10^−7±0.6 cm²/s·molecule for an initial methanol coverage of 0.05 ML. Methoxy decomposition was studied in the temperature range 150–165 K and at an initial coverage of 0.015 ML. The first order kinetic parameters, E = 11.4±0.5 kcal/mol and A = 5.3×10^13±1 s⁻¹ were derived. Advantages and limitations of using SIMS as a tool for kinetic studies are discussed.     

Microwave spectrum,centrifugal distortion constants,and quadrupole coupling constants of 3-chloropyridine

The microwave spectrum of 3-chloropyridine has been measured in the frequency region of 8.2 to 18 GHz. The rotational constants, centrifugal distortion constants, and the quadrupole coupling constants for the ³⁵Cl species are A = 5839.448 ± 0.027 MHz, B = 1604.152 ± 0.005 MHz, C = 1258.327 ± 0.004 MHz, Δ_J = 0.10 ± 0.01 KHz, Δ_JK = 0.36 ± 0.09 KHz, Δ_K = 1.18 ± 0.07 KHz, δ_J = ?0.008 ± 0.005 KHz, δ_K = 0.88 ± 0.20 KHz, χ_aa = ?70.04 ± 0.38 MHz, χ_bb = 36.68 ± 0.19 MHz. The values of rotational constants and quadrupole coupling constants for the ³⁷Cl species are A = 5840.052 ± 0.034 MHz, B = 1559.354 ± 0.01 MHz, C = 1230.739 ± 0.016 MHz, χ_aa = ?54.20 ± 1.26 MHz, χ_bb = 29.49 ± 0.48 MHz. The double bond character in the CCl bond is found to be 2%. The smaller than expected value of rotational constant A points to a “fattening” of the pyridine ring about the a-axis in contrast to 2-chloropyridine, where no such substitution effect was observed.     

Microwave spectrum,dipole moment,and conformation of 3-methylcyclopentanone

The rotational spectrum of 3-methylcyclopentanone has been observed in the frequency region from 18.0 to 26.5 GHz. Both a-type and b-type transitions in the ground vibrational state and a-type transitions in five excited states have been assigned. The ground state rotational constants are determined to be A = 5423.32 ± 0.18, B = 1949.51 ± 0.01, and C = 1529.59 ± 0.01 MHz. Analysis of the measured quadratic Stark effects gives the dipole moment components ∥μ_a∥ = 2.97 ± 0.02, ∥μ_b∥ = 1.00 ± 0.03, ∥μ_c∥ = 0.18 ± 0.06, and the total dipole moment ∥μ_t∥ = 3.14 ± 0.03 D. These data are consistent with a twisted-ring conformation with a methyl group in the equatorial position.     

Lifetimes of some excited states in 64Ni, 66Zn and 68Zn

Mean lives and excitation energies of the lowest levels in⁶⁴Ni,⁶⁶Zn and⁶⁸Zn were measured with the aid of the (α, α′γ) and (α, pγ) reactions. The γ-rays were detected in coincidence with the outgoing particles. The following mean lives were determined from DSA measurements: 400 ± 150 fs for the level at E_x = 1.35 MeV in ⁶⁴Ni; 270 ± 100, 210 ± 110, 330 ± 200, 80 ± 70 fs for the levels at E_x = 1.87, 2.45, 2.83, 2.94 MeV in ⁶⁶Zn, and 1300 ± 300, > 160, 600 ± 200 fs for the levels at E_x = 1.08, 1.89 and 2.76 MeV in ⁶⁸Zn, respectively.     

Magneto-optic study of the critical region of EuS

Critical exponents of the insulating ferromagnet europium sulfide are determined using the technique of Faraday rotation. Values obtained are γ = 1.06 ± 0.05, β = 0.335 ± 0.01, δ = 4.20 ± 0.1 and T_c = 16.52 ± 0.02 K. The data are found consistent with the scaling hypothesis.     

57Fe-Mössbauer study of electrically conducting barium iron vanadate glass after heat treatment

Local structure and thermal durability of semiconducting xBaO·(90?? x)V₂O₅ · 10Fe₂O₃ glasses (x = 20, 30 and 40), NTA glass ^TM, before and after isothermal annealing were investigated by ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy and differential thermal analysis (DTA). An identical isomer shift ( $\mathit{\delta}$ ) of 0.39 ± 0.01 mm s^???1 and a systematic increase in the quadrupole splitting (Δ) were observed from 0.70 ± 0.02 to 0.80 ± 0.02 mm s^???1 with an increasing BaO content, showing an increase in the local distortion of Fe^IIIO₄ tetrahedra. From the slope of the straight line in the T _g–Δ plot of NTA glass ^TM, it proved that Fe^III plays a role of network former. Large Debye temperature (Θ _D) values of 1000 and 486 K were respectively obtained for 20BaO · 70V₂O₅ · 10Fe₂O₃ glass before and after isothermal annealing at 400°C for 60 min, respectively. This result also suggests that Fe^III atoms constitute the glass network composed of tetrahedral FeO₄, tetrahedral VO₄ and pyramidal VO₅ units. The electric conductivity of 20BaO · 70V₂O₅ · 10Fe₂O₃ glass increased from 1.6 × 10^???5 to 5.8 × 10^???2 S cm^???1 after isothermal annealing at 450°C for 2,000 min. These results suggest that the drastic increase in the electric conductivity caused by heat treatment is closely related to the structural relaxation of the glass network structure.     

Characterization of products emanating from conventional and microwave energy roasting of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) concentrate

Chalcopyrite concentrate (83% CuFeS₂, 3% FeS₂ and 14% ZnS) which is a typical feed to the matte smelting process for copper extraction via pyro metallurgical route has been roasted with microwaves. Comparison of mineralogical phases obtained was made with the case of conventional roasting. Resulting calcines were characterised with Mössbauer spectroscopy and XRD. It was observed that complete oxidation (dead roasting) of the chalcopyrite was achieved after 10 min with microwaves while 20 min were required in the conventional route. The mineralogical phases found in the dead-roasted calcines produced from microwave roasting of this chalcopyrite concentrate were the hematite (Fe₂O₃), franklinite (ZnFe₂O₄), copper-rich ferrite (Cu_1?x Zn _x Fe₂O₄, x?≤?0.5), and copper ferrite (CuFe₂O₄). The findings of this work indicated that it was technologically feasible to oxidize the chalcopyrite with microwaves using a 2.45 GHz multimode applicator.     

Synchrotron PEEM and ToF‐SIMS study of oxidized heterogeneous pentlandite,pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite

Synchrotron‐based photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM; probing the surface region) and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS; probing the uppermost surface layer) have been used to image naturally heterogeneous samples containing chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂), pentlandite [(Ni,Fe)₉S₈] and monoclinic pyrrhotite (Fe₇S₈) both freshly polished and exposed to pH 9 KOH for 30 min. PEEM images constructed from the metal L₃ absorption edges were acquired for the freshly prepared and solution‐exposed mineral samples. These images were also used to produce near‐edge X‐ray absorption fine‐structure spectra from regions of the images, allowing the chemistry of the surface of each mineral to be interrogated, and the effect of solution exposure on the mineral surface chemistry to be determined. The PEEM results indicate that the iron in the monoclinic pyrrhotite oxidized preferentially and extensively, while the iron in the chalcopyrite and pentlandite underwent only mild oxidation. The ToF‐SIMS data gave a clearer picture of the changes happening in the uppermost surface layer, with oxidation products being observed on all three minerals, and significant polysulfide formation and copper activation being detected for pyrrhotite.     

Influence of Solution Acidity on Structure of Actinocin Derivatives and Their Affinity to DNA Studied as a Function of pH by Raman Spectroscopy

An important problem of molecular biophysics is the influence of pH and ionic strength of a solution on chemical structures and charge of biologically active substances. By means of pH titration and Raman spectroscopy methods, the influence of solution acidity on structural changes of actinocin derivatives was investigated, analogues to antitumor antibiotic actinomycin D. It has been shown that these ligands have different values of cation charges in neutral solutions. From analysis of Raman spectra, it was concluded that protonation of nitrogen atom and amino group of the phenoxazone ring starts only at pH < 3.5. It was shown that protonation of actinocin derivative with two amide groups (diaminoactinocin) occurred in two steps. Corresponding protonation constants for diaminoactinocin (log k ₁ = 6.9 ± 0.5 and log k ₂ = 5.3 ± 0.1) and for partially protonated actinocin derivative with three methylene groups in the side chains (log k = 5.3 ± 0.1) were obtained. Characteristic frequencies of Raman spectra for the basic functional C=O, C2–NH₂, C–C=C, and –N=C groups of phenoxazone chromophore of actinocin derivatives in protonated and nonprotonated states were determined. The different affinities of binding of variously charged ligands to DNA have also been demonstrated.     

Local structure and water cleaning ability of iron oxide nanoparticles prepared by hydro-thermal reaction

Nanoparticles (NPs) of Fe₃O₄ and γFe₂O₃ synthesized by hydrothermal reaction were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). A decrease in concentration of methylene blue (MB) aqueous solution due to bulk Fe⁰-NP γFe₂O₃ mixture with the mass ratio of 3:7 was measured by ultraviolet-visible light absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The Mössbauer spectrum of NP Fe₃O₄ prepared from hydrothermal reaction was composed of two sextets with absorption area (A), isomer shift (δ) and internal magnetic field (H _int) of 56.3 %, 0.34_±0.03 mm s^???1 and 49.0_±0.30 T for tetrahedral (T _d) Fe^III, and 43.7 %, 0.66_±0.11 mm s^???1 and 44.0_±0.71 T for octahedral (O _h) Fe^II?+?III. The Fe^II/Fe^III ratio was determined to be 0.280 for NP Fe₃O₄, giving ‘x’ of 0.124 in Fe_3???xO_4. These results show that NP Fe₃O₄ prepared by hydrothermal reaction was not regular but nonstoichiometric Fe₃O₄. Consistent results were observed for XRD patterns of NP Fe_3???xO₄ indicating sharp intense peaks at 2Θ of 30.2, 35.7 and 43.3° with a large linewidth of 0.44°, yielding the crystallite size of 29–37 nm from the Scherrer’s equation. Iso-thermal annealing of NP Fe_3???xO₄ at 250 °C for 30 min resulted in the precipitation of NP γFe₂O₃ with δ of 0.33_±0.03 mm s^???1 and H _intof 46.4_±0.27 T due to magnetic tetrahedral Fe^III. The Debye temperature of NP Fe_3???xO₄ was respectively estimated to be 267_±5.45 K for Fe $^{\mathrm{III}}(T_{\mathrm{d}})$ and 282_±7.17 K for Fe $^{\mathrm{II+III}}(O_{\mathrm{h}})$ , both of which were smaller than that obtained for bulk Fe₃O₄ of 280_±4.15 K and 307_±5.70 K, indicating that the chemical environment of iron of NPs is less rigid than that of the bulk compounds. A leaching test using methylene blue (MB) and mixture of bulk Fe⁰-NP γFe₂O₃ (3:7) showed a remarkable decrease in MB concentration from 1.90 × 10^???2 to 9.49 × 10^???4 mM for 24 h with the first order rate constant (k _MB) of 2.1 × 10^???3 min^???1. This result verifies that MB decomposing ability is enhanced by using NP γFe₂O₃ compared with the k _MB of 1.1 × 10^???4 min^???1 previously obtained from the leaching test using MB and bulk mixture of Fe⁰???γFe₂O₃ (3:7).