ABSTRACT The treatment of wastewater containing heavy metal ions and dyes is essential due to its considerable environmental contamination. A novel nanocomposite (β‐CD/MMT/TKP) featuring chemically crosslinked networks was synthesized by combining β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD), tamarind kernel powder (TKP), and montmorillonite (MMT), demonstrating exceptional efficacy in the removal of cationic dye (malachite green MG), anionic dye (biebrich scarlet BS), and heavy metal ions Cu(II) and Cr(VI). β‐CD/MMT/TKP exhibited a porous morphology with the MMT lamellae being exfoliated and distributed. The adsorption processes were effectively predicted by the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic models. The highest adsorption capacities of β‐CD/MMT/TKP for MG, BS, Cu(II), and Cr(VI) were 191, 912, 900, and 930 mg/g at 30°C, respectively. The examination of Fourier transforms infrared spectra revealed that host–guest interactions were important in the adsorption process, and intermolecular forces also had a substantial function. The oxygen atoms were also involved in chelation with metal ions. The adsorption efficiency remained 81% and 88% for MG and BS, respectively, for five cycles, and for Cu(II) and Cr(VI), remained 84% and 83% after six cycles, respectively. The β‐CD/MMT/TKP nanocomposite exhibits significant potential in the treatment of wastewater, capable of simultaneously eliminating cationic dyes, anionic dyes, and heavy metal ions.
Khushbu et al. (2026) studied this question.