El Golli A, Contreras S, Dridi C
Center of Research on Microelectronics and Nanotechnology of Sousse, NANOMISENE Laboratory LR16CRMN01, Technopole of Sousse, B.P. 334, Sousse, Tunisia.
High School of Sciences and Technology of Hammam Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia.
Sci Rep. 2023 Nov 27;13(1):20809. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-47554-2.
The design of a green photocatalytic system that harnesses renewable and eco-friendly constituents holds the potential to offer valuable insights into alternative strategies for treating toxic multi-components in refinery water effluents. A significant challenge in implementing a practical and viable approach is the utilization of solar energy-an abundant, natural, and cost-effective resource-for photochemical processes within advanced oxidation processes. In this study, we explored the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as photocatalyst prepared via an environmentally friendly synthesis approach, resulting in the formation of crystalline wurtzite nanoparticles, with an average size of about 14 nm relatively spherical in shape. Notably, the extract derived from Moringa oleifera was employed in this investigation. These nanoparticles were characterized and validated using various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. For comparison, conventionally synthesized ZnO NPs were also included in the evaluations. The findings reveal that, under illumination, biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit photocatalytic performance in effectively breaking down the organic compounds present in synthetic petroleum wastewater. Photochemical analysis further illustrates the degradation efficiency of Green-ZnO, which, within 180 min of irradiation resulted in 51%, 52%, 88%, and 93% of removal for Phenol, O-Cresol. Under optimal loading conditions, NPs produced via the green synthesis approach perform better when compared to chemically synthesized ZnO. This significant improvement in photocatalytic activity underscores the potential of eco-friendly synthesis methods in achieving enhanced water treatment efficiency.
设计一种利用可再生且环保成分的绿色光催化系统，有望为炼油厂废水有毒多组分的处理提供有价值的替代策略见解。实施切实可行方法的一个重大挑战是在高级氧化过程中利用太阳能（一种丰富、天然且具有成本效益的资源）进行光化学过程。在本研究中，我们探索了使用通过环境友好合成方法制备的氧化锌纳米颗粒（ZnO NPs）作为光催化剂，其形成了平均尺寸约为14 nm、相对呈球形的结晶纤锌矿纳米颗粒。值得注意的是，本研究采用了辣木提取物。这些纳米颗粒使用各种表征技术进行了表征和验证，包括X射线衍射、透射电子显微镜、场发射扫描电子显微镜和能量色散X射线光谱。为了进行比较，传统合成的ZnO NPs也被纳入评估。研究结果表明，在光照下，生物合成的ZnO纳米颗粒（NPs）在有效分解合成石油废水中存在的有机化合物方面表现出光催化性能。光化学分析进一步说明了绿色ZnO的降解效率，在180分钟的辐照时间内，对苯酚、邻甲酚的去除率分别为51%、52%、88%和93%。在最佳负载条件下，与化学合成的ZnO相比，通过绿色合成方法制备的NPs表现更好。光催化活性的这一显著提高突出了环境友好合成方法在提高水处理效率方面的潜力。
