Single-helix carbon microcoils prepared via Fe(III)-osmotically induced shape transformation of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) for enhanced adsorption and antibacterial activities

Abstract

Carbon coils have many significant technological applications; however, most of them were fabricated using either expensive apparatus or complicated procedures. Herein, a versatile and simple method was used for fabricating valuable single-helix carbon microcoils (SHCMs) by Fe(III)-osmotically induced shape transformation of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.). This versatile strategy allowed to readily reach high surface area (365m2g−1), large pore volume (0.24cm3g−1) and a narrow average mesoporous size of 5.5nm via a combined impregnation and hydrothermal carbonization process, and to achieve uniform SHCMs in a reasonable system. In addition, the SHCMs showed excellent performance in antibacterial property and the clearance of chloramphenicol, which should be a promising candidate for efficient adsorbent in water purification. The equilibrium data were well fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model with a maximal adsorption capacity of 124.32mgg−1 at ambient temperature. The antibacterial mechanisms was also explored. The findings revealed that the Fe(III)-osmotically induced transformation is a potential route for large-scale preparation of SHCMs from appropriate biomass precursors.