Ferromagnetic nanotracers based on Fe and Co oxides: synthesis and their role in assessing the quality of mixing liquid feeds

Ensuring homogeneity of the feed mixing is crucial for animal health and productivity. The growing complexity of feed formulations increases the need for uniform mixtures, particularly for young animals, where balanced feed significantly affects growth and consumption. Ferromagnetic microtracers, developed by MicroTracers Inc., are used to monitor mixing uniformity in dry feed production. These microtracers, including iron-based types, are effective due to their magnetic properties, facilitating detection, and separation. However, they are less suitable for liquid feeds, leading to the development of magnetic nanotracers based on the iron oxide for liquid feed applications. Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) is used to measure the size and distribution of nanoparticles in liquid feeds, ensuring thus effective mixing. The stability and uniform distribution of magnetic nanoparticles are crucial, with various surfactants, such as dimethylamine salt of oleic acid (DMAOA) and ammonium oleate, influencing particle size and aggregation. DMAOA provides better dispersion and stability, essential for quality control in feed production. The concentration of cobalt in nanoparticles FexCoyOz was determined by a modified spectrophotometric method.