Bio based nitrogen doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were obtained from empty fruit bunch carboxymethylcellulose and ethylenediamine (EDA) through one-pot hydrothermal carbonization route. The optimum as-formed N-CDs were thoroughly characterized via Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), UV-vis spectra (UV-Vis) and Fluorescence spectra (PL). Response surface methodology was statistically used to assess three independent variables that have major influence on the fluorescence quantum yield (QY), including temperature (230-270 degrees C), time (2-6 h) and EDA mass (10%-23.3%). Based on analysis of variance (ANOVA) results, synthesis temperature was found to be the most influential factor on the QY, followed by time and EDA mass. Higher temperature, long synthesis time and high amount of EDA were satisfactorily enough for efficient carbonization conversion rate and obtaining highest QY of N-CDs. The obtained quadratic model (R-2 = 0.9991) shows a good correlation between the experimental data and predicted values. The optimum synthetic parameters are of 270 degrees C temperature, 6 h reaction time and 23.3% of EDA mass. The optimized as-made N-CDs exhibited blue photoluminescence with both excitation dependent/independent phenomena and high nitrogen content. The maximum emission intensity was 426 nm at a maximum excitation wavelength of 320 nm, with a QY of up to 22.9%. XPS and FTIR data confirmed the existence of polar containing groups, such as carbonyl, carboxyl, hydroxyl and amino groups over the surface of N-CDs whereas nitrogen species in the form of (pyridinic and graphitic - N) were introduced in the aromatic carbon domains, which imparts the hydrophilic and photostability of N-CDs. Taking into account the low-cost and sustainable production of N-CDs, this method considered a feasible route for converting low quality waste into value-added nanomaterials and utilizing for different functionalization processes and analytical applications. (C) 2019 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.