Facile synthesis of porous carbon@Fe3O4 composites and their applications in wastewater treatment

Porous carbon@Fe3O4 magnetic composites (PCMCs) were prepared using carbon-coated magnetic nanoparticles as precursors; the Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were used as both a magnetic resource and pore-forming agent. The method has proved to be valuable for producing porous carbon nanocomposite materials constituted of metal oxide, which are of interest because of their peculiar structure and chemical properties. The diameter of the pores and the porosity of the composite can be controlled by adjusting the diameter and the concentration of Fe3O4 NPs, respectively. Furthermore, the final material, with high surface area, has been used as an absorbent in wastewater treatment and exhibits a strong capability to remove heavy metal ions pollutants. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.