Novel delafossite structured visible-light sensitive AgFeO₂/PPAC nanocomposite for efficient adsorptive...

In this work, a novel delafossite AgFeO₂-based pomegranate peel activated carbon nanocomposite (AgFeO₂/PPAC) was synthesized via a hydrothermal route. Structural and surface characterization (XRD, SEM-EDX, BET, TGA, and FTIR) of PPAC and AgFeO₂/PPAC nanocomposite indicate successful deposition of AgFeO₂ onto a porous carbon matrix with high surface area. The AgFeO₂/PPAC nanocomposite was evaluated for the removal of the anionic Brilliant Blue R (BBR) and the cationic Neutral Red (NR) dyes from aqueous solutions under visible light. The AgFeO₂/PPAC nanocomposite shows high removal efficiency toward both dyes in single and binary systems. The experimental data fit well with the Langmuir isotherm model, suggesting monolayer adsorption under the studied conditions. The maximum adsorption capacities are 798.6 mg g^-1 for NR and 598 mg g^-1 for BBR. Kinetic analysis shows good agreement with the pseudo-second-order model (PSO), indicating that surface interactions contribute to the adsorption process. Thermodynamic parameters indicate a spontaneous and endothermic process. The overall removal performance is attributed to the combined contribution of adsorption and photocatalytic activity. The AgFeO₂/PPAC nanocomposite demonstrates stable performance over repeated cycles, indicating good reusability. These findings suggest that the developed material is a promising candidate for wastewater treatment applications.