Mesoporous carbon spheres: Synthesis, surface modification and neutral red adsorption

A simple ultrasonic method of preparing porous carbon spheres without using a solvent was presented. Furfuryl alcohol acted dual functions as carbon sources and solvent, silica nanoparticles as template precursor, and oxalic acid as homogeneous catalyst. Effects of different oxidants (H2O2 and HNO3), on structural parameters, morphologies, and dye adsorption properties of carbon samples were studied. Results showed that specific surface areas and total pore volumes of carbon spheres increased with H2O2 treatment, whereas surface area and pore volume of carbon spheres decreased after HNO3 oxidation. Oxidized mesoporous carbon sphere exhibited better adsorption capacity and adsorption affinity for neutral red dye than pristine carbon. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.