Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles for the treatment of wastewater in the presence of natural sunlight

Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using monochloro acetic acid as a complexing agent. These synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV-visible, energy-dispersive X-ray, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, and BET techniques. As-prepared ZnO nanoparticles show crystalline nature with hexagonal dominant crystal phase. The SEM image shows the formation of homogenous micro-porous nanoparticles of ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO materials was measured on UV-visible spectrophotometer under natural sunlight irradiation and shows the efficiency (eta) of 56.80% in 150 min of time. A ZnO nanoparticle shows an excellent photocatalytic activity and can be used for the treatment of wastewater.