Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Water Purification

Abstract

In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized through a simple co-precipitation method starting from zinc acetate dihydrate and sodium hydroxide as reactants. The as-obtained ZnO nanoparticles were morphologically and structurally characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photocatalytic activity, and by determining the antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The XRD pattern of the zinc oxide nanoparticles showed the wurtzite hexagonal structure, and its purity highlighted that the crystallinity correlated with the presence of a single product, zinc oxide. The ZnO nanoparticles have an average crystallite size of 19 ± 11 nm, which is in accordance with the microscopic data. ZnO nanoparticles were tested against methyl orange, used as a model pollutant, and it was found that they exhibit strong photocatalytic activity against this dye. The antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles was tested against Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans). The strongest activity was found against Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus).

Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Acacia caesia Bark Extract and Its Photocatalytic and Antimicrobial Activities

“…Several studies also revealed that the same experiment using differen dyes in varying conditions showed the degradation of the photocatalytic activity of th nanocomposites in the removal of the dyes [55][56][57]. For the present study, a model pollu tant like methyl blue was considered for the analysis whose photocatalytic activity wa Recent studies have reported that the use of nanomaterials resulted in high-performance waste water treatment [50][51][52]. Various environmental friendly methods like the embedded ZnO nanoparticles in a surface layer of clay used as a matrix has been reported in the past for the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in wastewater [53].…”

“…The degradation can also happen due to the reaction between the oxygen atoms with the electrons in the conduction band reducing the oxygen to O2 -. Recent studies have reported that the use of nanomaterials resulted in high-perfor mance waste water treatment [50][51][52]. Various environmental friendly methods like th embedded ZnO nanoparticles in a surface layer of clay used as a matrix has been reporte in the past for the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in wastewate [53].…”

Microbial Mediated Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles, Characterization and Multifaceted Applications

“…ZnONPs also exhibited strong photodegradation activity of methyl orange dye that used as a model pollutant and caused a great environmental pollution [169]. In this regard, Karnan and Selvakumar [170] reported that under sunlight, ZnONPs exhibited around 83.99% decolorization efficiency of methyl orange dye at 120 min.…”

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: A Review on Its Applications in Dentistry

“…Other studies have proven the efficacy of ZnO NPs which can be used in nano-composite membranes used for the purification of water. This is due to its antibacterial activity against S. aureus and the favourable photocatalytic activity, which enhances the adsorption of organic pollutants, pesticides and microbes that are found in the wastewaterrendering it safe ( Spoială et al, 2021 ).…”