Magnetic carbon aerogel pyrolysis from sodium carboxymethyl cellulose/sodium montmorillonite composite aerogel for removal of organic contamination

In this paper, we present a facile approach for the synthesis of polysaccharide-based carbon aerogel by sol–gel processing, freeze-drying, and pyrolysis of a sodium carboxymethyl cellulose/sodium montmorillonite composite aerogel. The as-prepared carbon aerogel was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, nitrogen adsorption measurements, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The carbon aerogel obtained in this study possessed low density (0.064 ± 0.0029 g/cm3), a high surface area (185 m2/g), and flame retardance. Measurements of the magnetic properties indicated that the carbon aerogel exhibited typical ferromagnetic characteristic at room temperature. The absorption capacity of the carbon aerogel for oils and organic solvents is as much as 10–20 times its own weight. Moreover, a method of combustion could be employed to recycle the carbon aerogel. The results imply that the carbon aerogel is a potential cost-effective adsorbent for oil and organic pollutants from aqueous solutions in environmental pollution cleanup.