Preparation of a hierarchical flower-like γ-Al2O3@C composite exhibiting enhanced adsorption performance for congo red by high temperature transformation of γ-AlOOH@C precursors

A hierarchical flower-like gamma-Al2O3@C composite was synthesized via a hydrothermal method combined with a heat treatment process using glucose and Al nanopowders as reactants. Herein, glucose plays key roles in the formation of the flower-like structure and carbon shell. Due to the high specific surface area of the flower-like gamma-Al2O3@C composite (346.2 m(2) g(-1)), its adsorption ability was investigated. The organic dye Congo Red (CR) was selected as a subject in the study. Over 90% of CR could be removed from aqueous solution within 5min, and the final adsorption capacity reaches 244.5 mg g(-1) which is much higher than most gamma-AlOOH and gamma-Al2O3 materials reported before, indicating it would be a promising material used in the water treatment industry.