Green synthesis, characterization and antifungal and photocatalytic activity of Pithecellobium dulce peel–mediated ZnO nanoparticles

• Published in: The Journal of physics and chemistry of solids Vol. 127; pp. 43 - 51
• Main Authors: Madhumitha, G., Fowsiya, J., Gupta, Neelesh, Kumar, Ashutosh, Singh, Mehakmeet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2019
• Subjects: Antifungal; Methylene blue; Photocatalytic activity; Pithecellobium dulce; ZnO nanoparticles; Photocatalytic activity; Antifungal; ZnO nanoparticles; Pithecellobium dulce; Methylene blue
• ISSN: 0022-3697; 1879-2553
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpcs.2018.12.005

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by a conventional method using Pithecellobium dulce peel extract. The phytochemicals present in the peel act as stabilizing agents. The ZnO NPs were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The XRD pattern confirmed the formation of crystals, which exactly matched with JCPDS card no.36–1451. The nondestructive XRD pattern showed a hexagonal crystalline nature, and scanning electron microscopy revealed a spherical shape. Further, the ZnO NPs exhibited excellent photodegradation efficiency with regard to the dye methyleneblue (MB), a major water pollutant released by the textile industry. A kinetic study of photodegradation of MB showed 63% degradation and a rate constant of 0.00812 min−1. The antifungal activity of the ZnO NPs resulted in 37.81% and 63.57% inhibition of the growth of Aspergillus flavus and 40.21% and 43.04% of growth inhibition of Aspergillus niger at 500 and 1000 ppm of ZnO NPs, respectively.
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•A one step eco-friendly phytosynthesis of ZnO nanoparticles is proposed.•The first report on peel of Pithecellobium dulce used for nanoparticles synthesis.•Performance of ZnO nanoparticles on methyelene blue degradation achieved.