Superparamagnetic behaviour of goethite prepared in sulphated medium

Abstract

The formation of goethite is simulated by stirring up in the presence of air a mixture of FeSO4, 7H2O and NaOH in the 1∶5 ratio at different initial concentrationC of ferrous ions. Mossbauer spectra of the oxidation end products display the sextet of goethite (αFeOOH) and a paramagnetic ferric doublet increasing whenC decreases; the crystal structure of goethite is also being modified. At a critical low concentration, the orthorhombic structure is no longer justified; inactive α′-FeOOH, which has a similar X-ray diffraction pattern as δ-FeOOH is obtained. All these compounds are crystallographically related.