Three-dimensional carbon-based porous
materials have proven to
be quite useful for tailoring material properties in the energy conservation
and environmental protection applications. In view of the three-dimensional
and well-defined structure of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs),
a novel carbon-based magnetic porous material (HKUST–Fe
3
O
4
) has been designed and constructed by MOF–guest
interactions of high-temperature pyrolysis. The obtained HKUST–Fe
3
O
4
exhibited the unique features of superparamagnetism,
a macro/mesoporous structure, environmental protection (inexistence
of toxic heavy metal ions), and physicochemical stability and has
shown high adsorption capacity and rapid adsorption for carcinogenic
organic pollutants (for example, rhodamine B) with an environmentally
friendly character and excellent reusability. We demonstrate that
the unique/superior advantages of HKUST–Fe
3
O
4
could meet the requirements of environment cleaning, especially
for removing the targeted organic pollutant from water. Moreover,
the specific HKUST–Fe
3
O
4
and organic
pollutant interaction mechanism has been analyzed in detail via parameter-free
calculations. This study proposes a promising strategy for constructing
novel carbon-based magnetic nanomaterials for various applications,
not limitated to pollutant removal.