Magnetic porous carbons with high adsorption capacity synthesized by a microwave-enhanced high temperature ionothermal method from a Fe-based metal-organic framework

Magnetic porous carbons with high surface areas were easily synthesized from a Fe-based metal-organic framework (MOF) by a novel microwave-enhanced high temperature ionothermal method. By choosing a Fe-based MOF called MIL-100(Fe) as both a Fe and C precursor and a porous template, and furfuryl alcohol as a second precursor, a series of γ-Fe2O3/C composites with strong magnetism were prepared in 3 min by a microwave-enhanced high temperature ionothermal method. Structure, morphology and magnetic property, as well as porosity of the products, were carefully studied by powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the BET surface area method, thermogravimetry, vibrating sample magnetometry, scanning electron microscopy, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The obtained γ-Fe2O3/C composites possess both high surface areas and magnetic characteristics. Their adsorption properties were preliminarily tested by the adsorptive removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution. The results suggest that such magnetic carbon composite exhibited high adsorption capacity (303.95 mg g−1) and fast adsorption kinetics, as well as a perfect magnetic separation performance (Ms = 4.12–19.54 emu g−1), for the MB removal from aqueous solution.