Efficient simultaneous adsorption of toxic contaminants Pb (II), Cr (VI), Cd (II), methylene blue, and antibiotic tetracycline from water by ZnO-curcumin-Go composite with regeneration.

This study introduces a multifunctional nanocomposite, zinc oxide (ZnO), curcumin, and graphene oxide (GO) (GZC), embedded in a vacuum-filtration setup for simultaneous removal of heavy metal ions (HMIs), dyes, and antibiotics. At a 1 mg/l dose, GZC achieved 97 ± 2 % removal of Pb (II), Cr (VI), methylene blue, and tetracycline within 10 min. Structural integrity and regeneration were validated via FTIR, TEM, XPS, FESEM, and XRD analyses. Post-adsorption, zinc and functional groups decreased by 89 %, with 67 % recovery after regeneration, confirming material resilience. Packed into a low-cost, flow-controlled vacuum pump, the GZC prototype enabled continuous-flow treatment and demonstrated excellent reusability, maintaining over 60 % removal efficiency across 12 regeneration cycles. Field tests on village water, the Ganga River, and municipal sources showed 94 ± 2 % efficiency, reducing contaminants below WHO limits. Laboratory trials confirmed the removal of nitrate (50 ± 2 %), phosphate (80 ± 2 %), and cationic surfactants (98 ± 2 %). The broad-spectrum adsorption, rapid kinetics, and mild regeneration make the composite a strong candidate for scalable water purification. Compared to conventional reverse osmosis (RO), this approach is significantly more energy-efficient and cost-effective. The material supports bulk synthesis and real-time deployment with environmental feasibility. Socio-economic and environmental aspects were also addressed, highlighting the potential of the composite for equitable access, industrial scalability, and sustainable impact. Its stability under repeated adsorption-regeneration cycles underscores its durability and practical viability in diverse real-world settings.