Template-free preparation of mesoporous Fe₂O₃ and its application as absorbents

In this paper, we present an easy template-free route to synthesize mesoporous Fe₂C₃ with a high surface area of 111 m ²/g and narrow pore distribution at 4.4 nm. This strategy has significant advantages comparing to the traditional templating routes in performance/price ratio and flexibility of procedures, and the mesoporous materials can be manufactured in quantity scale. The prepared mesoporous materials were used as an adsorbent to dispose of the Congo red containing wastewater, and they exhibited more favorable adsorptive properties than the commercial metal oxide powders with low surface area.