Preparation of eco-friendly nanocomposites based on immobilization of magnetic activated carbon with tartaric acid: Application for adsorption of heavy metals and evaluation of their catalytic activity in C-C coupling reaction

Abstract

A novel adsorbent containing bio-nanocomposites of activated carbon merged with magnetic nanoparticles was prepared and its surface was modified with tartaric acid derivative (TAR@MAC NCs). The TAR@MAC NCs adsorbent was evaluated for its ability to adsorption process for Cr, Co and Pb heavy metals. The various parameters such as amount adsorbent, concentration of heavy metals, contact time and pH value was studied using the response surface methodology (RSM) based on the central composite design (CCD). The adsorption process was conformed by the isotherm of Langmuir model and kinetic model of pseudo-second-order. Through the Langmuir isotherm model, the maximum adsorption capacity of TAR@MAC NCs for Cr, Pb and Co ions reached 86.55, 83.30 and 83.72 mg g−1, respectively. In the continuation of this project, with loading of Pd NPs onto the nanocomposite, the Pd-TAR@MAC NCs catalyst was synthesized and was studied for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction of aryl halides and phenyl boronic acid under green condition. The nanocomposites exhibited good reusability (5 times) and was separated easily from an aqueous solution with an external magnet.