Greener and efficient magnetic CS-Fe2O3 nanocomposite fabricated with β-Cyclodextrin for wastewater treatment: Heavy metal adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of industrial dyes

Here are three key highlights from the study on Greener and Efficient Magnetic CS-Fe₂O₃ Nanocomposite Fabricated with β-Cyclodextrin for Wastewater Treatment.•The magnetic nanocomposite CS-Fe₂O₃@β-CD was synthesized using a green method involving Citrus Sinensis extract and β-cyclodextrin, ensuring its suitability for environmental applications.•The nanocomposite demonstrated significant adsorption capacity, effectively removing heavy metals like Hg²⁺ and Sn²⁺ from aqueous solutions.•The maximum adsorption capacities were 89.96 mg/g and 85.76 mg/g, respectively, following the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating monolayer adsorption on the nanocomposite surface.•With a narrow bandgap of 1.5 eV, the nanocomposite showed excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light, achieving up to 98 % degradation of methyl orange and 97 % of methylene blue dyes.•This efficiency highlights its potential as a sustainable solution for degrading organic pollutants in wastewater. The study investigates the synthesis and application of magnetic nanocomposite, CS-Fe₂O₃@β-CD, fabricated using an eco-friendly approach with Citrus Sinensis extract and β-cyclodextrin. The nanocomposite was characterized using FT-IR, SEM, UV-Vis, XRD, and VSM analysis, providing insights into its functional groups, morphology, optical properties, crystallinity, and magnetic behavior. The CS-Fe₂O₃@β-CD nanocomposite demonstrated dual functionality in wastewater treatment, showing significant potential for heavy metal ion adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of industrial dyes. The adsorption studies revealed that the nanocomposite effectively removed Hg²⁺ and Sn²⁺ ions from aqueous solutions, with maximum adsorption capacities of 89.96 mg/g and 85.76 mg/g, respectively, under optimal conditions of pH 4 and nanoadsorbent dosage of 0.08 g/L. Adsorption isotherm analysis indicated that the adsorption process followed the Freundlich isotherm model, suggesting multilayer adsorption on the nanocomposite surface. Additionally, the nanocomposite exhibited a narrow bandgap of 1.5 eV, enhancing its photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methyl orange and methylene blue dyes under visible light, with degradation capacities of 98 % and 97 %, respectively. The results underscore the potential of CS-Fe₂O₃@β-CD nanocomposite as an efficient and sustainable material for wastewater treatment, providing a promising solution for environmental remediation of heavy metals and organic pollutants.