Abstract
In this study, an environmentally friendly nanocomposite was synthesized and comprehensively characterized for its potential to adsorb Pb(2+) ions and malachite green dye (MG) from aqueous solutions. The composite material was based on nanobentonite intercalated with Ni–Co perovskite oxide and Bimetallic metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) from Bimetallic Mg/Cu, linked with tartaric acid as an organic linker. Structural and chemical properties of the individual components and the final composite were examined using FT-IR, XRD, BET, while TGA was employed to assess thermal stability. SEM analysis provided insights into the surface morphology. The adsorption performance was evaluated under varying pH levels, contact times, adsorbent dosages, and contaminant concentrations. The ultimate adsorption capacity for Pb(2+) reached 105.7 mg/g at pH 7.0 with 10.0 mg of adsorbent and a contact time of 5.0 s. For MG, the highest uptake was 14.53 mg/g under optimal conditions of pH 6.0, 20.0 mg/L dye concentration, 20.0-minute contact time, and 10.0 mg of adsorbent. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-42785-5.