New magnetic iron oxide (Fe₃O₄)/activated charcoal (AC)/β-cyclodextrin (CD)/sodium alginate (Alg) polymer nanocomposite materials were prepared by direct mixing of the polymer matrix with the nanofillers. The obtained materials were utilized as nano-adsorbents for the elimination of methylene blue (MB), a hazardous water-soluble cationic dye, from aqueous solutions, and showed excellent regeneration capacity. The formation of the nanocomposites was followed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and adsorption of N₂ at −196 °C. The rate of adsorption was investigated varying several factors, namely contact time, pH, amount of adsorbent and MB concentration on the adsorption process. Studies dealing with equilibrium and kinetics were carried out in batch conditions. The obtained results indicated that the removal rate of MB was 99.53% in 90 min. Langmuir’s isotherm fitted better to the equilibrium data of MB. Fe₃O₄/AC/CD/Alg polymer beads shows amazing adsorption capacities in the elimination of cationic dyes (2.079 mg/g for polymer gel beads and 10.63 mg g⁻¹ for dry powder beads), in comparison to other adsorbent materials. The obtained adsorbent is spherical with hydrophobic cross-linked surface properties that enable an easy recovery without any significant weight loss of in the adsorbent used.

In spite of the growing demand for new antibiotics, in the recent years, the occurrence of fluoroquinolone antibiotics (as a curative agent for urinary tract disorders and respiratory problems) in wastewater have drawn immense attention. Traces of antibiotic left-overs are present in the water system, causing noxious impact on human health and ecological environments, being a global concern. Our present work aims at tackling the major challenge of toxicity caused by antibiotics. This study deals with the efficient adsorption of two commonly used fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics, i.e., Ofloxacin (OFX) and Moxifloxacin (MOX) on spherical hydrogel beads generated from methionine‒functionalized graphene oxide/ sodium alginate polymer (abbreviated Met-GO/SA) from aqueous solutions. The composition, morphology and crystal phase of prepared adsorbents were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermogravimetry (TGA/DTG). Batch adsorption tests are followed to optimize the conditions required for adsorption process. Both functionalized and non-functionalized adsorbents were compared to understand the influence of several experimental parameters, such as, the solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, temperature and initial concentration of OFX and MOX on adsorption. The obtained results indicated that the functionalized adsorbent (Met-GO/SA) showed a better adsorption efficiency when compared to non-functionalized (GO/SA) adsorbent. Further, the Langmuir isotherm was validated as the best fitting model to describe adsorption equilibrium and pseudo second-order-kinetic model fitted well for both types of adsorbate. The maximum adsorption capacities of Met-GO/SA were 4.11 mg/g for MOX and 3.43 mg/g for OFX. Thermodynamic parameters, i.e., ∆G°, ∆H° and ∆S° were also calculated. It was shown that the overall adsorption process was thermodynamically favorable, spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The adsorbents were successfully regenerated up to four cycles with 0.005 M NaCl solutions. Overall, our work showed that the novel Met-GO/SA nanocomposite could better contribute to the removal of MOX and OFX from the liquid media. The gel beads prepared have adequate features, such as simple handling, eco-friendliness and easy recovery. Hence, polymer gel beads are promising candidates as adsorbents for large-scale water remediation.

The presence of chromium in aquatic streams due to the discharge of industrial effluents is of great concern because of its toxic nature. Removal of Cr(VI) ion from wastewater is a necessary task. To enhance the adsorption capacity of sawdust for heavy metals, sawdust was modified with formaldehyde and used for the adsorption of heavy metal Cr(VI). The process of modifying was characterised by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The effects of various parameters such as pH, contact time, adsorbent dose and initial metal ion concentration on the adsorption process were investigated. The maximum removal of chromium (VI) was found to be 100% at pH 2.0, initial Cr(VI) concentration of 10 mg/L, and adsorbent dose of 4 g/L. Equilibrium isotherms for the removal of Cr(VI) were analysed by the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models and the experimental data were well explained by the Freundlich isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 8.84 mg/g. Kinetic studies were performed by pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion and Elovich models. The R² value of the pseudo-second-order model is higher than other kinetic models. Therefore, the obtained data were the best fit with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The thermodynamics indicated that the adsorption process of sawdust for Cr(VI) was endothermic and spontaneous in nature.

We report the synthesis of graphene oxide/nickel oxide/β-cyclodextrin (GO/NiO/β-CD) nanocomposite and the efficiency of the nanocomposite in decolourising two different dyes, methylene blue (MB) and methyl violet (MV). GO was prepared by modified Hummer’s method while hydrothermal method was used for the preparation of GO/NiO/β-CD. The as-synthesised nanocomposites were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). Photocatalytic degradation was carried out under solar light by monitoring the concentration of MB and MV dyes. Degradation reaction followed Langmuir-Hinshelwood pseudo first-order kinetic model. The apparent reaction rate constant (k) for MB increased as compared to MV under solar light irradiation. The MB showed better photocatalytic degradation efficiency by GO/NiO/β-CD composites. GO/NiO/β-CD nanocomposite has been very favourable for photocatalytic application.

This work reports a novel, facile and hydrothermal approach to prepare graphene oxide/NiO/Starch composite materials (GO/NiO/Starch). The composite materials were fully characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS), and Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA-DTA). Furthermore, the antibacterial properties of NiO and starch decorated graphene oxide were tested against Staphylococcus aureus by using the well diffusion method. The obtained results show that the GO/NiO/Starch composite material has a substantial antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Graphical abstract This is the flowchart of synthesis, characterization and biological activity of graphene oxide based NiO and starch composite materials: