Synthesis and characterization of MFe2O4 sulfur nanoadsorbents

Nanoparticles of ferrites (Fe₃O₄, NiFe₂O₄, CuFe₂O₄, and MnFe₂O₄) were prepared by a reverse (water/oil) microemulsion method. The microemulsion system consisted of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, 1-butanol, cyclohexane, and a metal salt solution. The procedure was carried out using aqueous ammonia as the coprecipitating agent. Nanosized particles were characterized by thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and pyridine adsorption. The NiFe₂O₄ sample exhibited narrow mesoporous pore size distribution and high surface area ≈233 m²/g. It achieved good adsorption activity towards the dibenzothiophene (DBT) compound (166.3 μmol/g of DBT adsorbent). The structural properties obtained were very interesting for potential applications in the desulfurization process in petroleum refining.