Tailored Schiff-Base nanocomposite: Unveiling its synergistic potential for colorimetric sensing, heavy metal ion removal, and antibacterial efficacy

Understanding the synergistic enhancement of adsorption, colorimetric sensing, and antibacterial activity of ZnO modified Novel Schiff-Base Nanocomposite. [Display omitted] •Schiff-Base was synthesized using a condensation reaction.•The Schiff-Base was modified by ZnO nanoparticles via the Hydrothermal method.•The as-prepared nanocomposite was utilized for adsorptive removal of heavy metal ions.•The nanocomposite showed a color response for heavy metal ions in colorimetric sensing. The removal of hazardous chemicals and species from water, soil, and air is a key problem in environmental remediation, and various materials have been investigated in this area. The quest for the best material for an environmental application is still unending. Metal oxide-based Schiff-Base nanocomposites, an alternative to conventional materials that combine the advantages of metal oxide and nanoparticles, may open new possibilities for overcoming this challenge. Because of their extraordinarily high surface-to-volume ratio, these materials are ideal for environmental remediation. Organic Schiff base (SB) and its SB-NC nanocomposite were synthesized and characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, and TGA/DTA. FT-IR spectra and XRD patterns confirmed the synthesis of Schiff-Base (SB) and its nanocomposite (SB-NC). TGA/DTA indicated the loss of weight % because of solvent evaporation and SB-NC breakdown. The as-prepared Schiff-Base nanocomposite was used for colorimetric sensing of metal ions in an aqueous solution. Among various metal ions, Cr(VI) and Cd(II) showed a positive colour response. Furthermore, to check the versatility of the prepared compound, adsorptive capacity was examined for the same metal ions Cr(VI) and Cd(II). The nanocomposite’s adsorptive efficacy was further evaluated by several critical factors (for example, solution pH, contact time, initial concentration, and adsorbent/adsorbate dose). The antibacterial activities of SB and SB-NC were studied towards Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria, and the results show that synergistic effects have significantly increased the antibacterial activities of the SB-NC.