Valorization of agroindustrial orange peel waste during the optimization of activated carbon–multiwalled carbon nanotubes–zinc oxide composites used in the removal of methylene blue in wastewater

•Production of composites using AC-MWCNTs-ZnO to remove dyes from aqueous solutions.•The good dispersion of ZnO NPs on carbon surfaces facilitate the adsorption phenomena.•The surface area was improved by adding ZnO NPs between 269.48 m2g-1and 1723.64 m2g−1.•Adsorbent AC-MWCNTs materials with 30 wt% of ZnO NPs can remove to 89.5 % MB dyes.•Carbon structures are an eco-friendly alternative adsorbent for dye removal in water. Activated carbons (AC) produced from agroindustrial orange peel (OP) wastes and/or commercial multi–walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified with ZnO nanoparticles in different amounts (15 and 30 wt–%) for the removal of methylene blue in aqueous solutions. The MWCNTs functionalization was carried out by typical procedure in acid medium using a ratio of 3:1 (HNO3/H2SO4). A batch adsorption analysis was carried out evaluating different parameters: MB concentration from 40 to 100 mg L–1; pH values between 4 and 10 and adsorption time that varied from 1 to 48 h. The modified materials were characterized through the techniques XRD, FTIR, BET, TGA, SEM and UV–vis. The results showed an adequate dispersion of ZnO NPs on the carbon surfaces with a typical flower–like morphology this type of shape developed micropores that facilitate adsorption phenomena. Under the evaluation conditions, 20 mg of carbon–based materials can remove up to 89.5 ± 4.47 % of MB (80 ppm) after 24 h of exposure at a regulated pH of 8. The equilibrium adsorption data were better fitted by a Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0.9999) than the Freundlich model (R2 = 0.9366); showing in the best case a maximum adsorption capacity of 1250 mg g−1 for both materials with 30 wt–% of ZnO NPs (AC–MWCTs or MWCNTs). Experimental data also suggest that the most likely mechanism is chemisorption followed by physical adsorption. Then, the compounds with 30 wt–% metal loading (ZnO NPs), AC–MWCNTs–ZnO or MWCNTs–ZnO, displayed the most interesting properties for MB dye removal. AC–ZnO compounds can also remove about 88.75 ± 4.43 % of MB, demonstrating that it can also be a facile and low–cost method to improve the surface area in carbonaceous structures by promoting a strong interaction with the ZnO NPs, which in turn helps to remove contaminants in water efficiently.