Synthesis of magnetic carbon composite by diesel engine and its application to dye removal

We report a one-step and efficient method to synthesize magnetic diesel particles (MDPs) and their application toward dye removal. The MDPs were obtained by the combustion of ferrocene-doped diesel fuel using an internal combustion engine. The diesel particles combined with ferrocene as a metal source were collected by an electrostatic precipitator. The thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the ferrocene-based catalyst and thermal stability of MDPs. FE-SEM showed irregular and aggregated morphologies, and the presence of iron oxide phases (Fe4O3 and gamma-Fe2O3) was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The characteristics of MDPs as an adsorbent for organic pollutants were evaluated by methylene blue (MB) adsorption experiments. Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order models best interpret the adsorption process and kinetics, respectively, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 40.81 mg/g of MB adsorbed on the surface of magnetic diesel particles.