Synthesis of aluminum alginate/graphene oxide/boehmite biopolymeric nanohybrid for the decontamination of Cu(II) and 2-chlorophenol

•Aluminum alginate/GO/AlOOH, nanohybrid has been prepared.•Al-Alg/GO/AlOOH was highly efficient for removing 2-chlorophenol and Cu(II).•Adsorption of Cu(II) was endothermic and 2-CP adsorption was exothermic.•Al-Alg/GO/AlOOH showed about 97 % regeneration capacity after five cycles. Sustainable biomaterials are crucial in wastewater treatment applications and are constantly in demand. Multifunctional nanohybrids can eliminate organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater. Herein, aluminum alginate/graphene oxide/boehmite (Al-Alg/GO/AlOOH) has been synthesized and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FT-IR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The scavenging of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) and copper (II)) onto synthesized hybrid biopolymer has been investigated as a function of reaction time, influence of pH, initial concentrations, and temperatures. The adsorption of Cu(II) onto Al-Alg/GO/AlOOH nanohybrid was more favorable than the 2-CP. The scavenging of Cu(II) and 2-CP was pH dependent and optimum adsorption capacity was found 83 mg/g for Cu(II) at pH 5.5 and 63 mg/g at pH 9.0 for 2-CP, respectively. The Cu(II) and 2-CP adsorption best fit the Redlich-Peterson (R-P) isotherm model. The equilibrium kinetic data for Cu(II) adsorption was fitted well to the Elovich model, and 2-CP adsorption was closely fitted to the pseudo-first-order (PFO) kinetic model. Cu(II) scavenging was spontaneous and endothermic, while, 2-CP adsorption was exothermic. Cu(II) and 2-CP adsorption mechanisms onto Al-Alg/GO/AlOOH have proposed mainly attraction forces, complexation, and hydrogen bonding. After five successive regenerations, Al-Alg/GO/AlOOH was considered a recyclable and promising adsorbent for removing organic and inorganic pollutants from the contaminated aquatic environment. [Display omitted]