Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles from bark extract of Kalopanax septemlobus

In this study, we applied Kalopanax septemlobus-ZnO nanoparticles (Ks-ZnO NPs) with green approach one-pot synthesis. Further, the extracts were used as capping agent and Zn (OAc)2 as the metal precursor to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles. The formation of ZnO NPs, the surface plasmon resonance were observed at 372 nm in UV-vis spectroscopy. The presence of functional groups which as a capping agent and formation of ZnO nanoparticles were confirmed in Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) result. The crystallization, elemental mapping and morphology showed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field-Emission Transmission Electron Microscopy (FE-TEM), and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) respectively. The photocatalytic activity of Ks-ZnO nanoparticles, was determined using methylene blue dye degradation percentage under UV light irradiation (365 nm), which resulted rate constant (k) was found 0.1215 with 97.5% of degradation in 30 min. In summary, phytochemicals in K. septemlobus extract have a potential as a reducing agent to form Ks-ZnO nanoparticles. The Ks-ZnO NPs are capable to degrade Methylene blue in brief time due to its extract-capped zinc oxide nano particles. Accordingly, the use of K. septemlobus for biosynthesis of nanoparticles may have an advance for many applications as a cost-effective and eco-friendly photocatalyst.