•Activity and isomers selectivity of methylenedianiline on zeolites have been investigated.•The topology structure of zeolite contributed to the activity and isomers selectivity.•The mass transport limitation can be overcome by dealuminated USY catalysts.The activity and isomers selectivity of the synthesis of methylenedianiline (MDA) from aminal on the various zeolites with different topology structure have been investigated. The poor activity in H-ZSM-5 and H-mordenite contributed to the narrow porous and scarcity of pore intersections or supercages in the MOR structure, respectively. H-beta zeolite shown high activity for the rearrangement reaction can take place in the pore intersections of zeolite BEA. For the dealuminated USY catalysts, the highest activity and selectivity to 4,4′-MDA is attributed to the rearrangement of aminal in the supercages and mesoporous, which the mass transport limitation can be overcome.

•A novel magnetic activated hierarchical porous carbon spheres with CoFe2O4 particles was prepared from corn starch.•Activation and magnetization of composites can be simultaneously obtained.•The magnetic activated hierarchical porous carbon spheres could remove dyes efficiently.A novel and facile preparation of activated hierarchical porous carbon spheres (AHPCS) with high surface area and developed pore structure from corn starch, a new precursor of carbon materials, via enzymolysis, carbonization and KOH activation was presented in this investigations, and AHPCS was then loaded with CoFe2O4 to fabricate magnetic AHPCS. Results showed that the composites had good magnetic properties and morphology, and the CoFe2O4 were mainly distributed in the macroporous. The saturation magnetization (Ms) increased with the CoFe2O4 content, while the surface area and pore volume decreased. The sample-3 (CoFe2O4:AHPCS = 1:75) possessed the surface area of 2110.48 (close to 2711.19 m2 g−1 of AHPCS) and Ms of 11.91 emu·g−1, which were sufficient for magnetic separation in wastewater treatment. More than 97% methylene blue could be adsorbed in 5 min, and CoFe2O4/AHPCS composites could be separated from the solution easily by an outer magnet.

•Biomass starch was utilized to fabricate spherical carbon.•Spherical carbon contains inherited morphology.•Surface area of spherical carbon was up to 2793.92 m2 g−1 and it had high phenol adsorption capacity.Spherical carbon with high surface area was successfully prepared by using a simple method from cassava starch. The prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and porosity analysis. The stabilization treatment was the main step in this process. The optimal stabilization temperature and holding time were 220 °C and 16 h, respectively. The products kept the original morphology of cassava starch perfectly. The spherical carbon showed much higher phenol sorption capacity, indicating that it was an excellent novel adsorbent.

•The hollow Ag–POMs microtubule was successfully prepared by using a simple method.•The microtubule has diamond shape and hexagon hole.•The microtubule is promising for use as hard template, microreactor, gas storage and sensor.The tubular structure is promising for use in hard template, microreactor, gas storage and sensors. Hollow Ag–POMs microtubule with diamond shape and hexagonal hole was successfully prepared by using a simple method from H3PW12O40 and AgNO3. The prepared sample was characterized by FTIR, scanning electron microscopy and EDS. For the prepared fibers with hollow structures, the length is about tens of micrometers, and both inner diameter and wall thickness are in the ranges of 0.5–1.0 μm. The plausible reaction mechanism was proposed.