Carbon dots (C-dots) is a recent member of carbonaceous nanomaterial with particle size below 10â�nm, equipped with unique fluorescent properties under UV light irradiation. Many methods for the production of C-dots have been reported by introducing carbon-rich waste. In this work, a facile and rapid method was developed to synthesize C-dots from the ashes of eggshell membrane (ESM) in sodium hydroxide solution assisted by one-step microwave irradiation. The optimum time in preparing the C-dots and the highest photoluminescence intensity are achieved for 1min and by using 1molL-1 NaOH, respectively. The resulting C-dots with an average size of 3.88±0.56nm exhibited pH and NaOH solvent-dependent fluorescent behaviour in the visible light range. They are found to be able to degrade methylene blue under sunlight irradiation, with increasing degradation ranging from 26 to 43 for 5ppm to 1ppm concentration of methylene blue. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd.