Preparation of hydrophilic mesoporous carbon and its application in dye adsorption

A hydrophilic mesoporous carbon (H-MS) has been prepared by a rapid redox reaction between mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) and an acidic potassium permanganate (KMnO4) solution at room temperature. The obtained material has a hydrophilic surface by the modification of oxygen-containing groups, and meanwhile retains the ordered mesoporous structure. No obvious difference of pore size between H-MS and CMK-3, and the slight decrease of surface area and pore volume is due to the modification of oxygen-containing groups on the carbon surface. An improved property for adsorbing dyes in aqueous solution was observed in H-MC, and the adsorption amount at equilibrium is similar to 3 times higher than that of CMK-3. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.