One pot Green Synthesis of Nano magnesium oxide-carbon composite: Preparation, characterization and application towards anthracene adsorption

Activated carbon was prepared from palm shell agro waste by chemical activation method using Potassium hydroxide. Nano-magnesium oxide was green synthesized using neem leaf extract by rapid precipitation method. Nano-magnesium oxide impregnated onto palm shell activated carbon composite was produced by dropwise mechanism and its efficiency was tested for the removal of anthracene from the aqueous solution. The surface area of the synthesized composite wasfound to be 69 m2/g and hexagonal structure of nano-MgO and amorphous nature of composites were confirmed by X-Ray diffraction. Uniform deposition of MgO particles onto the activated carbon was shown in Scanning electron microscopic images. Statistical optimization using response surface methodology (RSM) showed the optimum conditions for the removal of anthracene using nano-composite biosorbent as 6 g/L dosage, 30 °C temperature and initial anthracene concentration of 25 mg/L. The equilibrium model was best fitted with Freundlich isotherm. The maximum anthracene uptake was achieved in 60 min. Kinetic studies indicate that the pseudo-second order model is the best fit for the adsorption kinetic data. This experimental study also determines the potential efficacy of nano-MgO Carbon composite for the removal of anthracene from the real industrial effluent. In addition, phytotoxicity analysis of used nano-MgO Carbon composite is carried out on the soybean and black gram seeds, to prove its sustainability at the real environmental point of view. The cost effective green synthesis of composite for anthracene removal was well discussed and ultimately it shed light on the plausible adsorption of petroleum effluent from industrial point of view. Thus, the approaches adopted herein elucidate an efficient adsorption mechanism to eliminate anthracene present in the environment. [Display omitted] •Green Synthesis of Nano-MgO/Carbon composite using neem extract.•Bio-sorptive activities of synthesized composite on Anthracene adsorption prove its sustainability.•Adsorption studies were fitted to Freundlich and Khan isotherms.•Phyto-toxicity study of soybean seeds showed high germination index.•The re-use strategy of carbon composite was quite encouraging.