Single-helix carbon microcoils prepared via Fe(III)-osmotically induced shape transformation of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) for enhanced adsorption and antibacterial activities

- Single-helix carbon microcoils (SHCMs) was firstly fabricated from zucchini.
- A Fe(III)-osmotically induced transformation way was used for fabrication of SHCMs.
- Adsorption behavior of SHCMs was examined using chloramphenicol as model antibiotic.
- The SHCMs had excellent performance in chloramphenicol capture and antibacterial activity.
- The adsorption and antibacterial mechanisms were systematically explored.

Carbon coils have many significant technological applications; however, most of them were fabricated using either expensive apparatus or complicated procedures. Herein, a versatile and simple method was used for fabricating valuable single-helix carbon microcoils (SHCMs) by Fe(III)-osmotically induced shape transformation of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.). This versatile strategy allowed to readily reach high surface area (365 m2 g−1), large pore volume (0.24 cm3 g−1) and a narrow average mesoporous size of 5.5 nm via a combined impregnation and hydrothermal carbonization process, and to achieve uniform SHCMs in a reasonable system. In addition, the SHCMs showed excellent performance in antibacterial property and the clearance of chloramphenicol, which should be a promising candidate for efficient adsorbent in water purification. The equilibrium data were well fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model with a maximal adsorption capacity of 124.32 mg g−1 at ambient temperature. The antibacterial mechanisms was also explored. The findings revealed that the Fe(III)-osmotically induced transformation is a potential route for large-scale preparation of SHCMs from appropriate biomass precursors.

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