Fabrication of a nanocomposite from an agricultural waste and its application as a biosorbent for organic pollutants

Cellulose/SiO2 nanocomposite (CSNC) was successively prepared using a banana peel waste as a template for silica. X-rays diffraction confirmed the presence of both cellulosic and silica phases with the silica phase as the primary phase. Electron microscopes images showed a compact hexagonal morphology with an average particle size of 20 nm. The FTIR analysis ascertained the presence of hydroxyl groups, and the thermal analysis showed the high thermal stability of CSNC. The sorption ability of CSNC for methylene blue was examined in both aqueous solutions and a real sample. The adsorption was followed by pseudo-second-order reaction and obeyed Langmuir isotherm. Calculated thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption is spontaneous and exothermic, suggesting a chemisorption mode. The calculated adsorption capacity was 78.75 and 58.81 mg g(-1) in aqueous dye solution and real sample, respectively, suggesting the applicability of CSNC for field uses. The correlation between the composite components and its performance is suggested to be investigated in the future by changing the type of agricultural waste as well as the nanooxide.