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Molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) were developed by carrying out the cocktail solution of Template ((Salata, 2004)-Gingerol), monomer, crosslinker, and Ag 2 S Quantum Dots (QDs) by ex-situ dissolved in an appropriate solvent, resulting in an efficient crosslinked polymer composite. Degradation of Alizarin red S (ARS) dye and yellowish sunset (SY) azo dye under visible light irradiation was reported first time by the introduction of prepared MIPs composite. In this research, the result shows efficient photocatalyt activity of Ag 2 S-MIPs composite for the degradation of AR and SY dye with degradation% (80%) and (84%) in the aqueous wastewater. The degradation efficiency of the Ag 2 S-MIPs composite and the Ag 2 S QD associated with non-imprinted polymers (NIPs) (i.e. Ag 2 S-NIPs composite) were calculated by using different parameters such as catalyst dose, pH value, optimum time and concentration variation and the observations are evocative. Moreover, the density functional theory (DFT) approach was also used to analyze the structural, stability/energetics, and electronic features of the organic-inorganic hybrid composites of the Ag 2 S QD with the MIPs based on (Salata, 2004)-gingerol extract. The proposed QD and MIPs (EGDMA and (Salata, 2004)-Gingerol) composite model has been detected to be the most stable because it shows the largest binding energy (BE) among the three chosen composite models. It was found out that imprinted polymers were superior in enhancing the degradation of dyes when compared to non imprinted polymers. Introducing MIPs into the valence band accelerates the catalysis properties to stabilize newly fashioned excitons that are basically generated as a result of light excitation in presence of Ag 2 S Quantum Dots (QDs) and molecular imprinted polymer (MIPs). Motivation behind this work is to address the challenges related to environmental pollution causing by organic dyes. These toxins are known to cause diverse symptoms (e.g., skin irritation, eye infection, respiratory disorders, and even cancer) once exposed through ingestion and inhalation. Through incorporation of Ag 2 S QD into MIP,the purpose of this research is to enhance the selectivity, specificity and photocatalytic activity for dyes and that work holds a potential towards environmental remediation by developing a cost effective and sustainable method for controlling pollution in water. • Synthesis of Molecular Imprinted Polymer (MIPs) by using Ag2S Quantum Dots (QD) and (Salata, 2004)-Gingerol. • MIPs had a stronger response in Visible source of radiation attributed to QD-MIPs. • MIPs has high photocatalytic activity against multi-mode dyes test. • The OH, O2 − and H + are main reactive species during Ag2S photodegrading the AR and SY dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The release of synthetic food dyes, like Sunset yellow, into industrial effluents can cause serious environmental and health problems. Due to its aromatic structure, it is recalcitrant towards degradation into non -toxic intermediates and its removal by efficient adsorption represents a cheap and efficient method. Herein we propose the use of thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO) as effective Sunset yellow dye adsorbent with an adsorption maximum capacity comparable with other sophisticated, chemically synthesized carbon-based nanomaterials. The reduced graphene oxide and the Sunset yellow adsorbed one were characterized by FT-IR, XPS and XRD spectroscopy, N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherm and TGA analysis. BET surface area reduced from 274.1 m2/g (for TRGO) to 39.9 m2/g (for TRGO-SY) showing that Sunset Yellow molecules occupied the corresponding active sites while the number of sheets resulted from the XRD spectra – from 3 to 8 in TRGO to 5 in TRGO-SY indicates the ordered intercalations in the graphene structure. The adsorption isotherm experimental data were better fitted with the Langmuir model than the Freundlich model, with the maximum adsorption capacity of the SY dye monolayer of 243.3 mg/g at pH = 6.0 and 189.0 mg/g from synthetic wastewater. The kinetic study revealed a perfect fit following the Pseudo-second order model with an equilibrium achieved within 30 min. The lack of adsorption on the starting graphene oxide is indicative for π-π interactions between the adsorbate and adsorbent. Image 1 • Green and easily available adsorbent for anionic synthetic dyes. • Thermally reduced graphene oxide-an effective Sunset yellow dye adsorbent. • Perfect fit following the Pseudo-second order model. • Very rapid rate of SY removal, reaching the equilibrium after 30 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]