Microwave-assisted combustion synthesis of nano iron oxide/iron-coated activated carbon,anthracite,cellulose fiber,and silica,with arsenic adsorption studies

Combustion synthesis of iron oxide/iron coated carbons such as activated carbon,anthracite,cellulose fiber,and silica is described. the reactions were carried out in alumina crucibles using a panasonic kitchen microwave with inverter technology,and the reaction process was completed within a few minutes. the method used no additional fuel and nitrate,which is present in the precursor itself,to drive the reaction. the obtained samples were then characterized with x-ray mapping,scanning electron microscopy (sem),energy dispersive x-ray analysis (eds),selected area diffraction pattern (saed),transmission electron microscopy (tem),x-ray diffraction (xrd),and inductively coupled plasma (icp) spectroscopy. the size of the iron oxide/iron nanoparticle-coated activated carbon,anthracite,cellulose fiber,and silica samples were found to be in the nano range (50-400nm). the iron oxide/iron nanoparticles mostly crystallized into cubic symmetry which was confirmed by saed. the xrd pattern indicated that iron oxide/iron nano particles existed in four major phases. that is,γ-fe2o3,α-fe2o3,fe3o4,and fe. these iron-coated activated carbon,anthracite,cellulose fiber,and silica samples were tested for arsenic adsorption through batch experiments,revealing that few samples had significant arsenic adsorption. © 2011 mallikarjuna n. nadagouda and darren a. lytle.