Abstract
Carbon-based solid acid catalysts have shown great potential in a wide range of applications. Magnetic mesoporous carbon composite materials also have enormous potential especially in separation and adsorption technology. However, existing methods of synthesis of magnetic mesoporous carbon composites are complex multi-step procedures that are hard to control. A carbon-based solid acid catalyst has been successfully synthesised from amorphous carbon. However, existing techniques have been unable to produce a magnetically separable solid acid catalyst simply. Here we show that a magnetically separable mesoporous carbon-iron oxide nanoparticle composite with an amorphous structure can be readily synthesized. Further, a magnetically separable mesoporous carbon-based solid acid catalyst can be synthesized from this material by sulphonation, and this acid has a catalytic function. A magnetically separable catalyst can easily be recovered and reused, reducing the environmental impact of industrial processes.
