Magnetic composites based on metallic nickel and molybdenum carbide: A potential material for pollutants removal

► New magnetic molybdenum carbide composites can be prepared by CVD from ethanol. ► Magnetic molybdenum carbide shows promising results for pollutants removal. ► The carbide composites can be easily recovered magnetically and reused. New magnetic composites based on metallic nickel and molybdenum carbide, Ni/Mo2C, have been produced via catalytic chemical vapor deposition from ethanol. Scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies suggest that the CVD process occurs in a single step. This process involves the reduction of NiMo oxides at different temperatures (700, 800 and 900°C) with catalytic deposition of carbon from ethanol producing molybdenum carbide on Ni surface. In the absence of molybdenum the formation of Ni/C was observed. The magnetic molybdenum carbide was successfully used as pollutants removal by adsorption of sulfur and nitrogen compounds from liquid fuels and model dyes such as methylene blue and indigo carmine. The dibenzothiofene adsorption process over Ni/Mo2C reached approximately 20mgg−1, notably higher than other materials described in the literature and also removed almost all methylene blue dye. The great advantage of these carbide composites is that they may be easily recovered magnetically and reused.