Facile synthesis of biomass derived economically viable carbon dot polymer nanocomposite: A perspective towards sustainable removal of dyes from synthetic wastewater

Abstract

In this study, a sustainable carbon dot-based polymer nanocomposite was synthesized for the removal of organic contaminants, such as dyes, with the aim of addressing environmental concerns. Throughout the formulation process of polymer nanocomposites, the agglomeration of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix poses a difficult challenge. Therefore, iron oxide particles after coating with carbon dots particles were seamlessly integrated into the polymer matrix. The chemical, physical, optical, and thermal stabilities of the formulated composites were studied (FTIR, XRD, FESEM/TEM, EDX, UV–vis, AFM, and fluorescence analyses), which showed the uniform dispersion of nanoparticles on the polymer matrix. This approach of synthesizing composites using naturally derived materials will contribute to the decomposition of used adsorbents, promoting environmentally conscious and sustainable product practices. Furthermore, this research also focuses on significant adsorption parameters and their optimization using the Taguchi design approach for wastewater remediation. Validation of the adsorption process by isotherm study showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of PANI-FOCD was 462.96 mg/g. In addition, the performance of the composite was analyzed in terms of its economic feasibility and continuous adsorption efficiency, which ensured its sustainability in practical applications.