Synthesis and Characterization of Mesoporous Carbon Functionalized with Carboxylate Groups for a Promising Adsorbent

Mesoporous carbon material CMK-3 was successfully prepared by using mesoporous silica material SBA-15 as hard template and sucrose as carbon source through a nanocasting method. In order to improve the hydrophilic properties of the carbon materials, a large amount of carboxylic functional groups have been introduced upon the surface of carbon materials by oxidative treatment. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) exhibit highly ordered mesostructure with 2-D hexagonal symmetry of our sample. An absorption assigned to the -COOH groups is clearly visible in Infrared spectra, suggesting the presence of carboxylic functional groups. Rhodamine B (Rh B) was selected as a model for determining the adsorption activity of the obtained material. This material exhibited a high adsorption capacity, and an extremely rapid adsorption rate.