SYNTHESIS, BINDER OPTIMIZATION, AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ACTIVATED CARBON-ZEOLITE-MAGNETITE COMPOSITES

Abstract

The development of multifunctional porous composites with tailored structural and surface properties is of significant interest for advanced material applications. In this work, activated carbon-zeolite-magnetite (AC-Z-Fe3O4) composites were synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal method followed by carbonization, using citric acid or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as binders. Citric acid-assisted synthesis produced homogeneous composites with enhanced interfacial bonding and uniform magnetite distribution. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption (BET) analyses. SEM-EDS confirmed the effective integration of activated carbon, zeolite, and magnetite phases, while XRD demonstrated retention of AC and magnetite crystallinity with partial preservation of the zeolite framework. FTIR indicated reduced surface hydrophilicity, and BET analysis revealed hierarchical micropore-mesopore structures with pore sizes below 20 Å. These structural and textural features establish the composites as robust, multifunctional materials with hierarchical porosity and tuneable surface properties. The systematic comparison of binder chemistry provides insights for designing integrated porous composites, establishing a foundation for future investigations into gas adsorption applications.