Valorization of Biowaste for Nanocomposite Synthesis and Its Application for the Environmental Remediation of Bisphenol A: Optimization, Model Evaluation and Docking Studies

This study focuses on the synthesis and application of hybrid bio-nanocomposite material, namely Ppy-GO-Biochar, a unique nanocomposite created using biochar that was made from a plant waste, palm seeds and applied for the removal of Bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous environment. The biochar-based nanocomposite was characterized using techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), TEM, TGA and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The influence of various parameters such as pH (3–9), agitation speed (100–200), adsorbent dosage (0.5–1.5), and temperature (30–50 °C), on BPA removal were investigated using statistical design approach. The results demonstrated that the Ppy-GO-Biochar nanocomposite exhibited excellent adsorption capacity 88.50 mg/g and efficiency 94.8% for BPA removal. The experimental data fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, suggesting a chemisorption process. The equilibrium data were well-described by the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating monolayer adsorption of BPA on the nanocomposite surface. The interaction between Bisphenol A with Graphene oxide has the highest docking score and binding affinity of − 13.59 (kcal/mol). Mechanism for the sorption of BPA using the synthesized nanocomposite is proposed. The nanocomposite's enhanced adsorption capacity, cost-effectiveness, and environmentally friendly nature make it a potential candidate for water treatment applications in the future. Graphical abstract