Fabrication of eco-friendly nanocellulose-chitosan-calcium phosphate ternary nanocomposite for wastewater remediation

Nanocomposites have emerged as promising materials for pollutant removal due to their unique properties. However, conventional synthesis methods often involve toxic solvents or expensive materials. In this study, we present a novel ternary nanocomposite synthesized via a simple, cost-effective vacuum filtration method. The composite consists of calcium phosphate (CaP), biowaste-derived nanocellulose (diameter <50 nm) (NC), and chitosan (CH). The nanocomposite exhibited exceptional pollutant removal capabilities due to the hybrid approach of combining adsorption and size exclusion that widens and accelerates pollutant removal. When tested with synthetic wastewater containing 10 ppm of Ni ions and 10 ppm of Congo red (CR) dye, it achieved impressive removal rates of 98.7% for Ni ions and 100% for CR dye. Moreover, the nanocomposite effectively removed heavy metals such as Cd, Ag, Al, Fe, Hg, Mo, Li, and Se at 100%, and Ba, Be, P, and Zn at 80%, 92%, 87%, and 97%, respectively, from real-world municipal wastewater. Importantly, this green nanocomposite membrane was synthesized without the use of harmful chemicals or complex modifications and operated at a high flux rate of 146 L/m².h.MPa. Its outstanding performance highlights its potential for sustainable pollutant removal applications.