Structural, magnetic and catalytic properties of cobalt chromite obtained through precursor method

•CoCr2O4 was synthesized through the tartarate and gluconate precursor routes.•Both routes led to the formation of the single-phase CoCr2O4.•The crystallite size was in the range of 14–21nm.•CoCr2O4 samples presented ferrimagnetic ordering below Currie temperature Tc=97K.•CoCr2O4 samples presented catalytic performance in the total oxidation of CH4.