Natural composite containing iron oxide in lignocellulose (L/IO) was obtained from an extract of apricot tree wood by heating it in a wood coal furnace. This method provided a facile, “green” pathway for the fabrication of magnetic carbon substrate without using chemical reactions. Ion exchange technology was used to remove the nitrate using (L/IO) modifed with 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (Dabco) (ML/IO). The physicochemical properties were characterized by feld emission scanning electron micrographs (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), alternating gradient force magnetometer (AGFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra for both (L/IO) and (ML/IO) as adsorbents. Preliminary experiments indicated less favorability of (L/IO) in removing nitrate from water compared to (ML/IO). Batch adsorption experiments were performed and the efects of pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, initial nitrate concentration (Ci), temperature and competing anions were assayed on nitrate adsorption by (ML/IO). The obtained data were modeled using four kinetic models including the pseudo-frst order (PFO), pseudosecond order (PSO), Weber–Morris and Elovich. The best ft of experimental adsorption data was exhibited by means of the pseudo-second-order model (R2 0.99). Also, the equilibrium data were ftted to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Redlich– Peterson isotherm equations and the favorable ft exhibited with two Langmuir and Redlich–Peterson isotherms (R2 0.98). Finally, the desorption and regeneration studies showed a promising reusability of the (ML/IO). Antimicrobial activities of both (L/IO) and (ML/IO) were investigated by disc difusion method against two Gram-positive bacteria, namely S. aureus and B. cereus, and four Gram-negative bacteria, namely E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa and S. typhi, and two fungi, namely Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in vitro. The antimicrobial efects were more prominent in all cases for (ML/IO) compared to (L/IO). The investigations confrmed that (ML/IO) was more active against Gram-negative (IZD 8–19 mm) than Gram-positive (IZD 6–8 mm) bacteria. The highest antibacterial activity of (ML/IO) was exhibited against E. coli with IZD value of 19 mm.
