Single-step synthesis of activated carbon/γ-Fe2O3 nano-composite at room temperature

Magnetically activated carbon (MAC) nano-composite was synthesized by a simple single-step wet chemical method at room temperature. The structure, surface area, morphology and magnetic properties of as-prepared composite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunaure-Emmet-Teller analysis (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectrum, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometry. SEM and TEM analysis indicated that the spherical maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3) nanoparticles of average particle size 22 +/- 2 nm were homogeneously dispersed onto Treated Activated Carbon (TAC). Also, using Scherrer's formula, the average crystallite maghemite nano-particles on the TAC were estimated to be about 19 nm. According to BET analysis, the MAC was of 356 m(2)/g surface area and 0.36 cm(3)/g pore volume. The MAC nano-composite exhibited a nearly superparamagnetic property with a saturation magnetization (Ms) of 3.15 A m(2)/kg. It is suggested that this method could be a more efficient and practical way to produce magnetically modified activated carbon for use as a magnetic adsorbent to remove contaminants. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.