Soft-Template Solvent Thermal Method Synthesis of Magnetic Mesoporous Carbon-Silica Composite For Adsorption of Methyl Orange From Aqueous Solution

Abstract

A facile soft-template solvent thermal strategy was developed to prepare mesoporous carbon-silica composite (MMCS) by using furfuryl alcohol(FA) as carbon precursor, Pluronic copolymer P123 as template, hydrated iron nitrate as iron source, and teraethylorthosilicate as silicon source and it was applied for the removal of methyl orange (MO). The as-synthesized MMCS with abound of hydrophilic groups processed a high specific surface area, large pore volume, and good magnetic response. With the increase amount of FA, the surface area and functional groups increased, promoting the adsorption effect. The adsorption isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamics were all studied in detail. Additional, it was shown that the adsorption process could not be interfered by the co-existence of PO43-, NO3-, CO32-, SO42- and real water matrix. Thus, the MMCS prepared in this study could be utilized as an alternative adsorbent for the removal of methyl orange from aqueous solution.