We reported a facile, green and eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using aqueous extract of Garcinia mangostana (G. mangostana) fruit pericarp as reducing agent as well as capping agent. Biosynthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by various analytical tools using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results showed that ZnO NPs synthesized by aqueous extract of G. mangostana fruit pericarp with high purity, mostly spherical in shape with an average size of 21 nm. The photocatalytic activity of biosynthesized ZnO NPs was evaluated by carrying out the degradation of malachite green dye under solar irradiation. The extent of MG dye degradation was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring absorbance at its characteristics λ max value of 615 nm. Degradation products were detected using liquid chromatography-mass spectrophotometry technique. The biosynthesized ZnO NPs showed an excellent photocatalyst performance due to the small size and high purity.
In recent years, the green chemistry based-approach for the synthesis of nanoparticles has shown tremendous promise as an alternative to the costly and environmentally unfriendly chemically synthesized nanoparticles. In this study, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were synthesized through a green approach using the water extract of papaya (Carica papaya L.) peel biowaste as reducing as well as stabilizing agents, and copper (II) nitrate trihydrate salt as a precursor. The structural properties, crystallinity, purity, morphology, and the chemical composition of as-synthesized CuO NPs were analyzed using different analytical methods. The analytical results revealed that the synthesized CuO was observed as spherical-like in particles with measured sizes ranging from 85–140 nm and has monoclinic crystalline phase with good purity. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic results confirmed the formation of the Cu-O bond through the involvement of the potential functional groups of biomolecules in papaya peel extract. Regarding photocatalytic activity, the green-synthesized CuO NPs were employed as a photocatalyst for the degradation of palm oil mill effluent (POME) beneath the ultraviolet (UV) light and results showed 66% degradation of the POME was achieved after 3 h exposure to UV irradiation. The phytotoxicity experiment using mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) seed also showed a reduction of toxicity after photodegradation.
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