Synthesis and characterization of magnetically organoclay incorporating nanocellulose for pesticide removal from aqueous solution

BACKGROUND Organophosphate pesticides such as parathion are persistent, highly toxic contaminants that pose serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health, even at low concentrations. Developing efficient, sustainable, and selective adsorbents for their removal from water remains challenging. This study aimed to develop a magnetic ternary nanocomposite by integrating triphenylphosphine (TPhP)‐modified bentonite, nanocellulose derived from sugarcane bagasse, and Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles to enhance parathion removal. RESULTS A series of Fe 3 O 4 @TPhP‐bentonite@nanocellulose nanocomposites (S 0 –S 7 ) was synthesized and evaluated. Among them, S 5 , containing Fe 3 O 4 /organo‐bentonite/nanocellulose at 10%/1/0.5 (w/w/w), showed the best performance. Under optimized conditions at pH7) S 5 achieved 91.76% removal and an adsorption capacity of 45.88 mg/g, representing a 2.3‐fold improvement over organo‐bentonite alone. Adsorption equilibrium was reached within 50 min, with 52.44% of the total uptake occurring within the first 10 min. CONCLUSION The Fe 3 O 4 @TPhP‐bentonite@nanocellulose architecture provides a synergistic platform for rapid and efficient parathion removal. Combining organophilic sites, hierarchical porosity, and magnetic functionality demonstrates a promising strategy for designing sustainable adsorbents for pesticide‐contaminated water.