Magnetically separated and N, S co-doped mesoporous carbon microspheres for the removal of mercury ions

Magnetically separated and N, S co-doped mesoporous carbon microspheres (N/S-MCMs/Fe3O4) are fabricated by encapsulating SiO2 nanoparticles within N, S-containing polymer microspheres which were prepared using resorcinol/formaldehyde as the carbon source and cysteine as the nitrogen and sulfur co-precursors, followed by the carbonization process, silica template removal, and the introduction of Fe3O4 into the carbon mesopores. N/S-MCMs/Fe3O4 exhibits an enhanced Hg2+ adsorption capacity of 74.5 mg/g, and the adsorbent can be conveniently and rapidly separated from wastewater using an external magnetic field. This study opens up new opportunities to synthesize well developed, carbon-based materials as an adsorbent for potential applications in the removal of mercury ions from wastewater. (C) 2016 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.