Herein, a new hybrid magnetic core@shell biocomposite was prepared based on an alginate-bentonite core and a chitosan shell layer (mAB@Cs) where magnetic Fe3O4 NPs (50.7nm) were in-situ generated on the surface via a simple non-thermal co-precipitation approach. The biocomposite has a high ability to magnetically separate and remove organic (ciprofloxacin (CPX)) and seven toxic inorganic (Cu2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and Hg2+) contaminants from simulated wastewater. Experimental results showed a CPX monolayer chemisorption with a Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity of 264.7mg/g, maintained effectiveness up to the fifth cycle, and high removal rates of heavy metals ranging from 74.89% to 99.86% corresponding to adsorption capacities ranging from 12 to 20mg/g. For a more accurate evaluation, the biocomposite was tested on a real urban wastewater sample (RWW) and it has manifested a noteworthy efficiency in removing a mixture of inorganic pollutants in terms of potassium K+ and orthophosphate phosphorous P-PO43-, and organic matter in terms of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) with 46%, 90%, 84%, and 64% removal efficiencies, respectively. On top of this, a high inactivation rate of E. coli of the order of 96% was recorded, making the prepared magnetic biocomposite adept for the simultaneous removal of emergent wastewater pollutants, from organic, inorganic, to pathogen microorganisms.
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