Magnetic hierarchical porous carbon sphere prepared for removal of organic pollutants in water

• Magnetic hierarchical porous carbon sphere was synthesized through a simple method.
• This sample has high surface area, hierarchical porous and magnetic properties.
• This sample exhibits an efficient adsorption capacity for pollutants in water.
• This sample can be easily separated from the water by a simple magnetic process.

A magnetic hierarchical porous carbon sphere was synthesized by a simple, facile and inexpensive ion exchange route, in which the magnetic Fe3O4 particles are dispersed in the sample. The magnetic hierarchical porous carbon sphere was characterized by combined techniques including X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption desorption isotherms and the magnetization curve. This magnetic hierarchical porous carbon sphere has high surface area (986 m2/g), macroscopic sphere, hierarchical porosity (micropores, mesopores and macropores), and good magnetic separability properties. High surface area of this magnetic hierarchical porous carbon sphere showed an efficient adsorption capacity (152 mg/g) for organic pollutants (methyl orange) in water and can be easily separated from water by external magnetic field.