Nanocomposites and activated carbons are well known and tested effective adsorbents in the areas of water purification and water treatment. However, commercial nanocomposites and activated carbons are expensive; therefore, it has become increasingly pertinent to produce affordable nanocomposites and activated carbons. Herein, we report a microwave assisted synthesis of an agriculturally derived nanocomposite, maize tassel-silver (MtAg) nanocomposite. Controlled growth of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was formed with maize tassel powder (a lignocellulosic material) and silver nitrate in the ratio (1:1) and optimized microwave conditions of 1 h, 60 °C and 800 W. The MtAg nanocomposite was activated physically and chemically using air at 400 °C and nitrogen at 600 °C and H₃PO₄ at 500 °C respectively. The activated and non-activated MtAg nanocomposite were characterized using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The irregular sized, spherical shape of AgNPs was confirmed on the newly formed MtAg nanocomposite material using TEM. The XRD patterns showed diffraction peaks at 2θ of about 37.8°, 43.6°, 64.6°, 76.8° and 81.3°. The synthesized MtAg nanocomposite (ratios 1:1, 3:1 and 5:1/maize tassel vs. silver nitrate) exhibited low BET surface areas of 0.42, 0.36 and 0.13 m²/g, respectively. Upon physical activation, a BET surface area (86.27 m²/g) was recorded and this increased significantly to 331 m²/g, with chemical activation. The synthesized MtAg nanocomposite was found to be an improved form of the original tassel material in terms of thermal stability, crystallinity and structural morphology.

Graphical Abstract

中文翻译：

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微波辅助合成和表征农业衍生的银纳米复合材料及其衍生物

在水净化和水处理领域中，纳米复合材料和活性炭是众所周知的且经过测试的有效吸附剂。但是，商业纳米复合材料和活性炭价格昂贵。因此，生产负担得起的纳米复合材料和活性炭变得越来越重要。在这里，我们报告了一种微波辅助合成的农业衍生的纳米复合材料，玉米流苏-银（MtAg）纳米复合材料。用玉米流苏粉（木质纤维素材料）和硝酸银（比例为1：1）并在1 h，60°C和800 W的最佳微波条件下形成了受控的银纳米颗粒（AgNPs）生长。使用400°C的空气和600°C的氮气和H ₃ PO _4进行物理和化学处理分别在500°C下。活化和未活化的MtAg纳米复合材料的特征在于使用能量色散X射线光谱，扫描电子显微镜，透射电子显微镜（TEM），热重分析，Brunauer-Emmett-Teller（BET）和粉末X射线衍射（XRD）进行表征。使用TEM在新形成的MtAg纳米复合材料上确认了不规则尺寸的球形AgNPs。XRD图谱显示在约37.8°，43.6°，64.6°，76.8°和81.3°的2θ处的衍射峰。合成的MtAg纳米复合材料（玉米流苏与硝酸银的比例为1：1、3：1和5：1 /）分别具有0.42、0.36和0.13 m ² / g的低BET表面积。物理活化后，BET表面积（86.27 m ²/ g）记录下来，并随着化学活化作用显着增加至331 m ² / g。在热稳定性，结晶度和结构形态方面，发现合成的MtAg纳米复合材料是原始流苏材料的改进形式。

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