Biosynthesis of pure zinc oxide nanoparticles using Quince seed mucilage for photocatalytic dye degradation

Recently, biosynthesis of nanoparticles is an exciting area of research with wide applications because of the necessity to develop new cost-effective, clean, and efficient synthesis techniques. The main objective of this paper is the preparation of pure zinc oxide nanoparticles using the green synthesis method by Quince seed Mucilage as stabilizing agent for photocatalytic methylene blue degradation. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using FESEM, EDX, FTIR, XRD, UV-Visible methods. The effect of photocatalyst used, process time and kinetic investigation, and photocatalyst regeneration was evaluated. The characterization results showed the presence of pure Zinc oxide nanoparticles with fairly uniform crystals and an average size of about 25 nm. UV spectroscopy study indicated that the photocatalytic absorption spectrum has extended to all ultraviolet and visible regions with good band energy for dye degradation activity. Kinetic experiments of methylene blue degradation using nanoparticles were indicative of a good agreement with the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model and it was also seen that the photocatalyst could remove over 80% of methylene blue within 2 h. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.