Sugarcane juice mediated eco-friendly synthesis of visible light active zinc ferrite nanoparticles: Application to degradation of mixed dyes and antibacterial activities

The spinel-like cubic structure of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles (ZF NPs) was synthesized via a combustion route using sugar cane juice as a fuel. The structural and optical property of as synthesized sample was characterized by different analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The photocatalytic activity was carded out by the degradation of mixed organic dyes (Methylene Blue and Rose bengal). It shows excellent photocatalytic activity in the presence of mixed organic dyes similar to degradation of individual dyes. The ZF NPs can be further reused over four runs in the degradation process. The chemical stability of ZF NPs was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. This XRD pattern confirmed that the structure of ZF NPs remains same without losing its chemical stability even after four runs of degradation process. Therefore, it can be estimated that, the ZF proves to be a potential photocatalyst in the area of industrial waste water effluent treatment for environmental protection. And, also ZF NPs selected for antibacterial activity against gram negative bacteria strains. The antibacterial activity of ZF NPs was investigated using different bacterias (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa). (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.