Pomegranate peel extract in situ assisted phytosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles decorated Reduced Graphene Oxide as superior sorbents for Zn(II) and Lead(II)

A facile one step phytosynthesis technique was used to prepare Ag-RGO nanocomposites with different silver loading ratios up to 30% Ag-RGO by weight using pomegranate peel extract (PPE) as reducing and capping agent. These green synthesized Ag-RGO nanocomposites were characterized using XRD, Raman and TEM techniques. The adsorption capacity of Ag-RGO is evaluated under variable experimental conditions such as; contact time, a dosage of adsorbent and initial concentration of heavy metals. The adsorption kinetic data were studied, and the uptake process was well described by the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model and Pseudo second-order kinetic model.