Synthesis, characterisation and antibacterial activity of green synthesised manganese ferrite

In the cutting-edge antibacterial approaches, nanoparticles are widely utilised to target and eradicate pathogenic microorganisms. The manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) nanoparticles were green-synthesised using a Sol-gel auto-combustion-assisted approach with manganese nitrate, iron nitrate, Cocos nucifera water as a solvent and Cocos nucifera milk as fuel. The phase identification and structural characterisation were performed using powder X-ray diffraction techniques along with UV spectroscopy, and were endorsed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. The XRD pattern reveals a spinel cubic structure, with crystallite size ranging from 24.26 nm, 19.15 nm and 19.013 nm for pure MnFe2O4 (Mn), when using Cocos nucifera milk as a fuel (Mn - CM) and Cocos nucifera water as a solvent (Mn - CW), respectively. The particle size is lowered by using ferric ions as a size-reducing agent during the chemical reaction. The morphology and the elemental mapping were confirmed by FESEM analysis. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis reveals a comparatively lower surface area for the Mn-CM sample. From the XPS analysis, the surface elemental composition and oxidation states present in the material were confirmed. Magnetic properties of the material were measured using a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). The antibacterial properties were studied using the agar well diffusion method with E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).