Hierarchically-organized, well-dispersed hydroxyapatite-coated magnetic carbon with combined organics and inorganics removal properties

• Hierarchically-organized apatite/iron oxide/carbon microspheres were developed.
• The micro/mesoporous powders combine the sorption capacities of carbon and apatite.
• They demonstrate adsorption capacity towards organic and inorganics pollutants.
• These composites can be useful for superconducting separation wastewater treatment.

Novel hierarchically-organized magnetic microspheres have been successfully developed that consist of an aqueous hollow core, a magnetic porous Fe3O4–carbon layer and a well-define hydroxyapatite (HAp) shell. The hollow magnetic carbon microspheres were prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and coated with HAp using a biomimetic approach. The resulting powders exhibit micro- and meso-porosity. The removal capacity of the composite spheres towards an antibiotic (ampicillin), a rare-earth ion (La3+) and two heavy metals (Hg2+ and Pb2+) has been studied and compared with that of the individual components. The dual organic–inorganic affinity of the magnetic HAp/carbon conjugates was demonstrated, with synergetic effects being evidenced for heavy metal removal enlightening their potentialities in wastewater treatment.

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