Newly Green Synthesized ZnO Nanoparticles and their Effective Influence on Photocatalytic and Antimicrobial Activities

Water pollution from organic dye-based effluents is a major environmental concern across the world. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have gained attention as an effective material for degrading organic dyes in wastewater. In this study, ZnO NPs were synthesized through an eco-friendly bio-reduction process using Musa paradisiaca plant latex as both reducing and stabilizing agent. Structural analysis confirmed that the NPs have a single-phase hexagonal crystal structure with crystal size ranging from 15 to 25 nm. Energy dispersive spectroscopic technique has verified the presence of zinc and oxygen, while high-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed hexagonal shaped particles with an average size of similar to 20 nm. Under solar irradiation, the ZnO NPs demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic activity. They achieved 91% degradation of methylene blue (MB) in 30 minutes with a rate constant of 0.08 min-1. For crystal violet and Rhodamine B (RhB), 95% degradation was achieved in 90 minutes, with rate constants of similar to 0.03 min(-1). A proposed 3D reaction mechanism was used to explain MB and RhB degradation pathways. Additionally, the ZnO NPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. These results highlight the potential of bio-synthesized ZnO NPs for wastewater treatment and biomedical applications.