Date of Publication : September 2026

Abstract: The Shrimp shell and rice husk wastes were transformed via a one-pot synthesis into a sustainable AC/CH/ZnO/PPy bio-composite with a porous, conductive structure, enhanced surface functionality, improved mechanical stability, and abundant active sites for wastewater treatment. The Comprehensive characterization by FTIR, SEM, TEM and XRD, confirmed successful composite formation, crystalline ZnO incorporation, and increased surface area and porosity. Batch adsorption tests confirmed the functionality of the novel bio-composite, achieving 97.21% removal at pH 7.5 and 97.32% removal at 150 ppm after 50 min, with optimum conditions of 25 mg adsorbent dosage and 35 min contact time. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model, indicating that adsorption was governed by the availability of active sites and adsorbate uptake. The composite demonstrated antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones of 13 mm against E. coli and 14 mm against S. aureus, indicating its potential for dual-function wastewater remediation. Overall, this eco-friendly, low cost, and scalable approach converts agricultural and seafood wastes into a high-performance material for dye contaminated wastewater remediation and related environmental and antibacterial applications.

Keyword : Activated carbon, Chitosan, Polypyrrole, Zinc oxide nanoparticles, Methylene blue, Adsorption.

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