One-step in-situ sustainable synthesis of magnetic carbon nanocomposite from corn comb (MCCC): agricultural biomass valorisation for pollutant abatement in wastewater

This study explored a novel, eco-friendly, sustainable, low-cost, and abundantly available corn comb (CC) agricultural biomass waste-derived one-step in-situ synthesis of magnetic carbon (MCCC) as an efficient adsorbent for water decontamination applications. Herein, we developed a robust and easily separable MCCC by carbonization of Fe(NO3)(3).9H(2)O single iron salt-soaked CC at 500 & DEG;C for 5 h. The as-synthesized MCCC was confirmed for their physicochemical properties by various characterization techniques viz. scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission emission microscopy (HR-TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), surface area measurements by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) study, Raman analysis, and magnetic behavior by VSM analysis. The adsorption properties of MCCC on prototypical pollutant methylene blue (MB) was monitored depending on the effect of pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, and varying concentrations of MB. Especially, the pi-pi interactions played important role in the adsorption of MB at acidic pH (pH = 4). The MCCC displayed a maximum uptake capacity of 120.73 & PLUSMN; 0.63 mg/g toward MB. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin adsorption isotherm models were fitted with determined coefficient (R-2) values of 0.99, 0.95, and 0.96 respectively. The kinetics of the adsorption process was well fitted with a pseudo-second-order model (R-2 = 0.99). Most significantly, the as-designed easily separable, and reusable adsorbent, MCCC was effectively applied for the abatement of pollutants, different kinds of dyes, pesticides, and industrial wastewater samples. The sustainable, affordable, and waste to wealth-based MCCC with a simple synthesis methodology can be fruitfully applicable for environmental remediation and water decontamination.

Automated summary

This study developed a novel and eco-friendly method to synthesize magnetic carbon from corn comb waste. The synthesized magnetic carbon showed excellent adsorption properties for methylene blue at acidic pH. Additionally, the magnetic carbon demonstrated high adsorption capacity for various pollutants, dyes, pesticides, and industrial wastewater samples.