Application of multi-functional chestnut shell in one-step preparing Fe₃O₄@C magnetic nanocomposite with high adsorption performance

ABSTRACT

Chestnut shell (CS) acts as a multi-functional material in the one-step preparation of Fe₃O₄@C nanocomposite via hydrothermal method by using Fe(NO₃)₃ as Fe source without adding any other additives. The characterized results show that under required hydrothermal conditions, a proper amount of CS can reduce a certain amount of adsorbed/enriched Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ to ensure the 2:1 molar ration of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ and the in-situ formation of goal phase Fe₃O₄ on the surface of the CS. Meanwhile, CS is carbonized to C material similar to graphene oxide. In the preparation process of the composite of Fe₃O₄@C, CS plays multiple roles, such as promoter, reductive agent, C-source, and template, to endow a certain morphology of the nanocomposite Fe₃O₄@C. The composite material shows good magnetic separability and adsorption property for methylene blue (MB) solution. Furthermore, the adsorptive kinetic behavior of the Fe₃O₄@C is investigated. The method is simple, fast, low cost and green and really realizes the full use of wasteful resource CS.

KEYWORDS:

• Fe₃O₄@C nanocomposite
• chestnut shell
• one-step hydrothermal method
• magnetism
• adsorptive property

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University of Ministry of Education of China (Project no. IRT1177).

Additional information

Funding

Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University of Ministry of Education of China IRT1177.