Synergistic effect of synthesized green nanocomposite of chitosan-activated carbon thin film (ACTF)@opuntia ficus-indica shell for removal of Sn (II) and As (V) ions from aqueous solution

The purpose of this study was to develop a green and sustainable chitosan-activated carbon nanocomposite using Opuntia ficus-indica shell prepared from prickly pear plant material and evaluate its effectiveness for removing Sn (II) and As (V) ions from industrial wastewater. The nanocomposite was synthesized via an environmentally friendly crosslinking method. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized using several techniques, including FTIR, XRD, and SEM analysis. Adsorption experiments were conducted under various conditions to optimize the key parameters affecting Sn (II), and As (V) ions removal efficiency. The Adsorption kinetic and isotherm models were applied to further understand the mechanisms of the adsorption process. The results showed that the optimal pH for Sn (II), As (V) ions removal was in the range of 4–7. The maximum adsorption capacity for Sn (II) was 26 mg/g, and for As (V) was 14.7 mg.g⁻¹, achieved with a chitosan dose of 0.4–0.5 g.L⁻¹ at 25°C. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms indicated that the Adsorption involves monolayer and heterogeneous mechanisms, following pseudo-second-order kinetics. This green synthesized chitosan-activated carbon nanocomposite displayed excellent removal efficiency for toxic Sn (II), As (V) ions, providing a promising sustainable solution for wastewater treatment applications. The use of abundant opuntia ficus-indica shell enabled an eco-friendly synthesis approach aligned with circular economy principles. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.).