Hydrothermal synthesis of high surface area magnetically activated carbon nanocomposites from spinal chestnut shells for effective methylene blue removal
Atakan Toprak, Muhammet Huseyin Cokal
article (Uluslararası, Hakemli) | Yazar(lar): Atakan Toprak, Muhammet Huseyin Cokal | Yıl: 2026 | Dergi/Kurum: FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY | İndeks: WOS.SCI | DOI: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2026.108507 | Anahtar Kelimeler: Magnetic activated carbon, Spiny chestnut shells, Nanocomposite, Hydrothermal carbonization, Methylene blue
In this study, high-surface-area magnetically activated carbon nanocomposites were synthesized from sustainably sourced chestnut shells via a hydrothermal process, followed by chemical activation with ZnCl2 at 550-950 degrees C, and then magnetization. Physicochemical characterization using BET, XRD, SEM-EDS, FTIR, VSM, and XPS confirmed the successful integration of Fe3O4 nanoparticles into the highly porous activated carbon matrix. MAC850 was identified as the most suitable adsorbent, exhibiting a superior BET specific surface area of 1802 m2/g and a total pore volume of 1.25 cm3/g. Adsorption experiments for MB removal showed that the process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 = 0.99). The equilibrium data fit both the Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherm models, and MAC850 achieved an exceptional maximum monolayer adsorption capacity (Q0) of 1020.4 mg/g, significantly outperforming many previously reported biomass-derived magnetic adsorbents. Furthermore, MAC850 demonstrated remarkable reusability, maintaining a removal efficiency of 75% after five regeneration cycles. The adsorption mechanism is attributed to the synergistic interaction of electrostatic attraction, it-it stacking, hydrogen bonding, and significant pore filling within the hierarchical porous network. These results highlight the potential of MAC derived from chestnut shells as a highly effective, renewable, and magnetically separable adsorbent for the sustainable treatment of wastewater contaminated with cationic dyes.