Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of norfloxacin and amido black 10B using bael gum-infused ZnO/Ag₂CO₃ nanocomposites for sustainable approach to environmental remediation and antimicrobial activity.

The presence of antibiotics and dyes as organic contaminants has caused severe wastewater pollution, posing a significant environmental concern globally. To address this issue, this study highlights the green synthesis of ZnO/Ag₂CO₃ nanocomposites using bael gum (BG) for the photocatalytic degradation of norfloxacin (NOF) and Amido Black 10B (AB 10B), along with their antimicrobial activity. The synthesized BG-ZnO/Ag₂CO₃ nanocomposites were extensively characterized for their optical, structural, morphological, chemical purity, crystal structure, and surface area properties using XPS, XRD, FT-IR, FESEM, EDS, photoluminescence (PL) spectra, Raman analysis, HR-TEM, BET, and LC-MS. The nanocomposites materials exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation, achieving the degradation efficiencies of 91.03 % for AB 10B and 81.5 % for NOF,with corresponding rate constants of 0.017 min and 0.0028 min. The study further evaluated the influence of catalyst dosage, effect of pH, radical scavengers, reusability, and the stability. Kinetic analysis revealed that the bio-nanocomposite follows first-order kinetics for both pollutants. Scavenger studies identified hydroxyl radicals (OH) as the primary active species in the degradation process. LC-MS analysis confirmed the formation of degradation intermediates for NOF and AB 10B. Additionally, the bio-nanocomposite demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against various bacterial strains using the agar well diffusion method, exhibiting strong bactericidal effects against pathogenic bacteria. This study emphasizes the potential of bael gum-based bio-nanocomposites for improved photocatalytic degradation and antibacterial activity in wastewater treatment across various industries.