Synthesis of Fe3O4@poly(methylmethacrylate-co-divinylbenzene) magnetic porous microspheres and their application in the separation of phenol from aqueous solutions

► Fe3O4@oleic acid nanoparticles as magnetic core. ► Porous poly (methylmethacrylate-co-divinylbenzene) as polymeric shell. ► Magnetic porous microspheres for the remove phenol from aqueous solutions. ► We investigate factors affecting the specific surface area and pore size distribution of magnetic porous microspheres. ► Increasing specific surface area and polarity of magnetic porous microspheres will increase the adsorption efficiency.