Preparation of gallotannin loaded chitosan/zinc oxide nanocomposite for photocatalytic degradation of organic dye and antibacterial applications

Chitosan functionalization is a growing field of interest to enhance the unique characteristics of metal oxide nanoparticles. In this study, a facile synthesis method has been used to develop a gallotannin loaded chitosan/ zinc oxide (CS/ZnO) nanocomposite. Initially, white color formation confirmed the formation, and physicochemical natures of the prepared nanocomposite were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Crystalline of CS amorphous phase and ZnO patterns were demonstrated by XRD. FTIR revealed the presence of CS and gallotannin bio-active groups in the formed nanocomposite. Electron microscopy study exhibited that the produced nanocomposite had an agglomerated sheets like morphology with an average size of 50-130 nm. Further, the produced nanocomposite was evaluated for methylene blue (MB) degradation activity from aqueous solution. After 30 min of irradiation, the efficiency of nanocomposite degradation was found to be 96.64 %. Moreover, prepared nanocomposite showed a potential and concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against S. aureus. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that prepared nanocomposite can be used as an excellent photocatalyst as well as a bactericidal agent in industrial and clinical sectors.

Automated summary

In this study, a facile synthesis method was used to develop a gallotannin loaded chitosan/zinc oxide nanocomposite. The physicochemical properties of the prepared nanocomposite were examined using various techniques, and it was found to have agglomerated sheets like morphology with an average size of 50-130 nm. The nanocomposite showed high efficiency in degrading methylene blue and displayed concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against S. aureus, making it a potential photocatalyst and bactericidal agent.