Preparation of Fe3O4@C submicron rods for adsorption of methylene blue and fast separation from water

In this study, Fe3O4@C submicron rods were successfully prepared by an oxalate thermal decomposition-glucose hydrothermal carbonisation process. The adsorption property of the Fe3O4@C submicron rods to methylene blue was researched. The results show that the adsorption process conforms to the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The Fe3O4@C submicron rods show a comparable adsorption capacity compared with Fe3O4@C nanoparticles, but their separation speed under an external magnetic field is much faster than that of Fe3O4@C nanoparticles. These make the Fe3O4@C submicron rods an ideal material for the adsorption of the organic contaminant from water.