Biosorption of anionic dye using nanocomposite derived from chitosan and silver Nanoparticles synthesized via cellulosic banana peel bio-waste

In this study, a nanocomposite bio-adsorbent derived from biopolymer chitosan (CS as a matrix) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), synthesized via cellulosic banana peel bio-waste (BPC), was developed for further enhancing the bio-sorption of Reactive Orange 5 (RO5) dyes. The optimum RO5 dye removal percent was determined using the Taguchi design. FTIR-ATR, XRD, SEM, BET, and TEM were used to characterize the bio-sorbent AgNPs/BPC/CS nanocomposite. Size distribution, zeta potential analysis, thermogravimetric, reuse efficiency, and swelling behavior were also investigated. TEM and size distribution results confirmed that AgNPs composites biosynthesis generated in nanoparticle size, varying from 25 to 100 nm, with a peak position of size distributions at 47 and 43 nm for AgNPs/BPC, AgNPs/BPC/CS nanocomposites, respectively. The ANOVA analysis indicated that the RO5 removal models are considered a goodness-of-fit and can explain more than 99% of the response variable. The reuse efficiency studies have also demonstrated that the AgNPs/BPC/CS bio-sorbent could be reused up to four times with appreciable dye removal efficiency of more than 95 percent. The improved removal process of the anionic dyes is attributed to the enhanced surface positive groups of the developed AgNPs/BPC/CS bio-sorbent. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.