Comparison of the effects of microcrystalline cellulose and cellulose nanocrystals on Fe3O4/C nanocomposites

Fe3O4/C nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized by calcination ferrous precursors, which were obtained with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) or cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) by an environmentally-friendly ultrasound method in ethylene glycol (EG). The effects of different cellulose types on the Fe3O4/C nanocomposites were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry analysis (TG), and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG). The experimental results revealed that the different cellulose types played an important role in the phases, crystallinities, and morphologies of the Fe3O4/C nanocomposites. Moreover, the magnetic performance revealed that Fe3O4/C nanocomposites had relatively high superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic performances, which provided promising applications for the dye removal and wastewater treatment fields.