Simple and efficient biomimetic synthesis of Mn3O4 hierarchical structures and their application in water treatment.

Biotemplate synthesis of functional materials is interesting owing to low cost, high yield and easy way of preparation. Recently, we have developed a simple and cost effective biomimetic synthesis of hierarchical network like nanostructures of manganese oxide (Mn3O4). Readily available eggshell membrane with nucleating and capping sites were used as a template in our synthesis. The prepared material was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The surface area was calculated using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) theory, and pore size distribution was obtained by Barrett-Joyner-Helenda (BJH) method. The prepared Mn3O4 showed good ability to remove organic pollutants from water and expected to be useful in effluent treatment in textile industry.