Preparation and characterization of rice husk/ferrite composites

A novel ferrite composite using rice husk as substrate has been prepared via high temperature treatment under nitrogen atmosphere. The rice husk substrate consists of porous activated carbon and silica, where spinel ferrite particles with average diameter of 59 nm are distributed. The surface area of the composite is greater than 170 m(2) g(-1) and the bulk density is less than 0.6 g cm(-3). Inert atmosphere is indispensable for the synthesis of pure ferrite composites, while different preparation temperatures of above 600 degrees C result in composites with similar structures and morphologies. Due to the presence of ferrite particles, this novel composite shows enhanced adsorption ability for acid orange II. (C) 2009 Ying Ye. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.