Soft-template solvent thermal method synthesis of magnetic mesoporous carbon–silica composite for adsorption of methyl orange from aqueous solution

A facile soft-template solvent thermal strategy was developed to prepare mesoporous carbon–silica composite (MMCS) by using furfuryl alcohol (FA) as carbon precursor, Pluronic copolymer P123 as template, hydrated iron nitrate as iron source, and teraethylorthosilicate as silicon source and it was applied for the removal of methyl orange (MO). The as-synthesized MMCS with abound of hydrophilic groups processed a high specific surface area, large pore volume, and good magnetic response. With the increased amount of FA, the surface area and functional groups increased, promoting the adsorption effect. The maximum adsorption capacity of MO on MMCS can be high to 113.1 mg g −1 at pH 4 with 150 mg L −1 initial MO concentration. The adsorption isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamics were all studied and the results showed the adsorption process well fitted Langmuir adsorption isotherm and pseudo-second-order model. Additionally, it was shown that the adsorption process could not be interfered by the co-existence of PO 4 3− , NO 3 − , CO 3 2− , SO 4 2− , and real water matrix. And the proposed adsorbent can remove MO in three practical water samples with satisfied removal rates ranging from 92.8 to 99.8%. Thus, the MMCS prepared in this study could be utilized as an alternative adsorbent for the removal of methyl orange from practical aqueous solution.