Single-step synthesis of activated carbon/γ-Fe2O3 nano-composite at room temperature

Magnetically activated carbon (MAC) nano-composite was synthesized by a simple single-step wet chemical method at room temperature. The structure, surface area, morphology and magnetic properties of as-prepared composite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunaure–Emmet–Teller analysis (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectrum, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometry. SEM and TEM analysis indicated that the spherical maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles of average particle size 22±2 nm were homogeneously dispersed onto Treated Activated Carbon (TAC). Also, using Scherrer's formula, the average crystallite maghemite nano-particles on the TAC were estimated to be about 19 nm. According to BET analysis, the MAC was of 356 m2/g surface area and 0.36 cm3/g pore volume. The MAC nano-composite exhibited a nearly superparamagnetic property with a saturation magnetization (Ms) of 3.15 A m2/kg. It is suggested that this method could be a more efficient and practical way to produce magnetically modified activated carbon for use as a magnetic adsorbent to remove contaminants.