Modified ZnO Nanoparticles Research Articles

Impact of Modified ZnO Nanoparticles on Immune Response in Mouse Lung Cancer Model

Background: Lung cancer, which is characterized by the presence of malignant tumors, offers a potential avenue for treatment through the use of nanomedicines. Previous in vitro studies have shown promising effects of modified zinc oxide nanoparticles on lung cancer cell lines. Accordingly, this study investigates the impact of this nanodrug on the immune response in a mouse model of lung cancer. Materials and Methods: In this study, a mouse model of lung cancer was utilized. Various aspects, including tumor size, infiltration of CD8+ cells and the survival rate of the mice, were carefully examined. The obtained results were subsequently analyzed using the GraphPrism software, version 9. Results: Mice treated with the nanodrug exhibited a reduction in tumor size. Additionally, there was an increase in the number of CD8+ cells infiltrating the tissue. Furthermore, the administration of the nanodrug led to improved survival rates among the mice. Conclusion: The use of this nanodrug has shown significant efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth. Moreover, it has demonstrated potential in enhancing CD8+ cell infiltration, thereby strengthening the immune response and suppressing tumor progression. Ultimately, this nanodrug improves the survival of mice receiving treatment.

Investigation of physicochemical characteristics of Dy3+ modified ZnO nanoparticles

In this report, pristine and Dy3+ modified ZnO nanoparticles [Zn(1-x)DyxO NPs, where x = 0, 0.05, and 0.10] were synthesized using the sol–gel route, and their physicochemical characteristics were investigated. x-ray diffractograms of all the compositions possess P63mc space group depicting hexagonal crystallinity with wurtzite-type crystal structure with no signature of impurities as confirmed using the Rietveld refinement technique. The granular microstructure displayed grain growth with Dy3+ incorporation in the ZnO crystal framework and an increment in average grain size was found to be 22.83 nm for x = 0 to 36.34 nm. The optical energy band gap also increased from 3.35 eV to 3.88 eV with Dy3+ doping in the host ZnO. Dy3+ substitution inhibits the conduction in ZnO and improves the resistivity (36 Ωcm–79 Ωcm) as carrier concentration diminishes from 7.36 × 1016 cm−3 to 4.23 × 1016 cm−3. Similarly, the mean free path length for ZnO and Dy3+ doped ZnO NPs declines from 0.0301 nm to 0.0198 nm. Dielectric properties of all the compositions were investigated using an LCR impedance analyzer and it was observed that Dy3+ substitution enhances the value of the dielectric constant from 32 to 91 with a low tangent loss at 50 Hz.

Low-temperature one-step synthesis of surfactant-free ZnO nanoparticles for efficient glycolysis of PET

Among PET chemical recycling technologies, glycolysis has shown the greatest potential for achieving commercial viability on large scales. The catalyst development is always one of the challenges in PET glycolysis. Herein, surfactant-free ZnO nanoparticles (SF-ZnO) were synthesized through a one-step process in an aqueous medium at low temperatures and ambient pressure. Meanwhile, a microchannel reactor with intensified micro-mixing and mass transfer was used to finely control the synthesis of SF-ZnO with uniform size distribution and consistent production reproducibility. Compared to the modified ZnO nanoparticles (M−ZnO) treated with the surfactant KH570, SF-ZnO exhibited enhanced catalytic activity and reusability in PET glycolysis, which can be attributed to its higher concentration of acid sites and superior thermal stability. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the impact of four key factors (temperature, time, catalyst: PET mass ratio, EG: PET mass ratio) and their interactions on bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) yield in PET glycolysis. Under optimal conditions (196 °C, 40 min, SF-ZnO: PET = 0.76 wt%, EG: PET = 4), PET conversion and BHET yield reached 100 % and 97.3 %, respectively. Aspen simulation and preliminary scale-up experiments confirmed the commercialization potential of PET glycolysis on SF-ZnO. Meanwhile, the environmental energy impact metric and life cycle assessment (LCA) showed that the SF-ZnO catalytic system provided an economically feasible and environmentally friendly solution to PET glycolysis.

Synthesis and multifunctional characterizations of Gd2 O3 and Sm2 O3 modified ZnO nanoparticles

In the present communication multifunctional characterizations suitable for spintronics and memory storage devices are described. Double doped (Gd3+, Sm3+) ZnO nanoparticles are prepared from Sol-Gel method using poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) as chelating agent. The as prepared powders are annealed at 500 °C–1000 °C with a step size of 100 °C. The genesis of single phase hexagonal wurtzite structure, morphological and topographical changes, optical, magnetic and mechanical properties were studied with XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), EDS (energy dispersive spectroscopy), UV- DRS (ultraviolet diffuse reflective spectroscopy), PL (photoluminescence), VSM (vibrating sample magnetometer) and pin on disc tribometer. XRD study untangled the crystallite size and found to be in the range23-50nm. Polycrystalline nanoparticles of spherical geometry with induced porosity is observed from SEM study. The particle size associated with the samples annealed at 500 °C and 900 °C is 24 nm and 27 nm respectively from TEM study. Analyzed the proximity of functional groups, molecular vibrations in the range of 400-4000 cm−1 employing FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). EDS results revealed the stoichiometry of the produced samples. The pronounced optoelectronic applications of Zn1-x Gdx Smx O (ZGS) can be attributed to the large band gap (3.50–3.02 eV) associated with the materials with rise in annealing temperature. The room temperature ferromagnetism was evidenced with double doped ZnO nanomaterials. The wear coefficient, and friction coefficient were evaluated using pin-on-disc tribometer. The utility of materials as solid state lubricants was confiscated from the range of frictional coefficient values (0.067–0.893).

Tribological properties of pickering emulsion constructed with ZnO nanoparticles modified by magnetic surfactants

To fulfill the requirements of long-term stable lubrication and corrosion protection, conventional industrial emulsion lubricants often involve complex formulations with multiple components, posing challenges in terms of preparation, recycling, and potential environmental impact. In order to address the problems, a Pickering emulsion with a simple composition and excellent anti-corrosion properties is prepared by incorporating magnetic surfactant ((C18H37)2N+(CH3)2[CeCl4]-) modified ZnO nanoparticles as a multifunctional additive into colza oil and water. The results demonstrate that Pickering emulsions exhibit excellent stability. Moreover, their magnetic responsiveness makes them promising candidates for intelligent lubricants. Furthermore, effective recycling and sustainability are achieved through reversible emulsification and demulsification. Tribological test results reveal that the addition of modified ZnO enhances the emulsions’ anti-friction and anti-wear properties due to nanoparticle rolling and repairing effects, generation of tribofilms, and deposition of ZnO nanoparticles. We anticipate that the Pickering emulsion could find widespread applications in various sectors, including metalworking and industrial manufacturing, owing to its uncomplicated composition, environmentally friendly nature, excellent anti-corrosion capabilities, and superior lubricating properties.

Enhancing anticorrosive performance of epoxy‐based ZnO nanocomposite coatings via 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate modification

AbstractThe influence of 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) on the properties of epoxy‐based ZnO nanocomposite coatings was investigated, considering its impact on both modified ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and epoxy resin matrix. FTIR analysis revealed that TMSPM‐modified epoxy resin (mEP) exhibited lower hydroxyl group and epoxy group content compared to the initial epoxy resin (EP). Furthermore, the obtained results demonstrated that epoxy‐based coatings incorporating modified ZnO NPs (m‐ZnO NPs) displayed superior mechanical properties compared to those of the sample filled with the unmodified ZnO NPs (u‐ZnO NPs). However, the mechanical properties of epoxy‐based coatings loaded with m‐ZnO NPs were found to be lower than those of coatings comprising mEP resin and m‐ZnO NPs. The arrangement of anticorrosion performance of coatings followed a similar pattern. SEM analysis of the cross‐cut surface revealed better dispersion of m‐ZnO NPs compared to the u‐ZnO NPs, although small gaps were observed among the m‐ZnO NPs and the epoxy matrix. The SEM images of coatings based on mEP and m‐ZnO NPs indicated a tighter structure. This structural characteristic is considered the main reason for the highest anticorrosion performance observed in the investigated coatings incorporating both mEP and m‐ZnO NPs.

Pluronic F-127 modified ZnO nanoparticles: Green synthesis, surface modification, characterization and anticancer properties

In this study, we report a green synthesis method for ZnO NPs using guava leaf extract and surface modification of these nanoparticles with Pluronic. The structural, chemical characteristics, and morphological features of the synthesized ZnO NPs and their surface-modified counterparts were thoroughly described using appropriate techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The anticancer activity of the Pluronic-coated ZnO NPs was also evaluated on cervical cancer cells (Hela). The results revealed that the synthesized nanomaterial exhibited excellent effectiveness in eradicating Hela cancer cells. The cell viability of Hela cells decreased significantly to 8.85% when the nanoparticle concentration used was 200 µg/mL. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was relatively low, around 28.07 µg/mL. These findings demonstrate the significant potential of using Pluronic F-127 surface-modified ZnO NPs in cancer treatment.

Fulvic acid modified ZnO nanoparticles improve nanoparticle stability, mung bean growth, grain zinc content, and soil biodiversity

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have emerged as a novel solution to combat Zn deficiency in agriculture. However, challenges persist regarding their Zn utilization efficiency and environmental impact. Fulvic acid (FA), as a relatively mature modified material, is a promising candidate to enhance the environmental stability of ZnO NPs. This study investigates modifying ZnO NPs with FA to improve their stability and increase Zn content in mung bean fruit and explores their effect on plants and the soil ecosystem. We combined FA and ZnO NPs (FZ-50) at mass ratios of 1: 5, 1: 2, and 4: 5, denoted as 20 % FZ, 50 % FZ, and 80 % FZ, respectively. Initial germination tests revealed that the 50 % FZ treatment improved sprout growth and Zn content and minimized agglomeration the most. A subsequent pot experiment compared FZ-50 with ZnO, ZnO NPs, and F + Z (1: 1 FA: ZnO NPs). Notably, the FZ-50 treatment (50 % FZ applied to the soil) demonstrated superior results, exhibiting a 30.25 % increase in yield, 121 % improvement in root nodule quality, and 56.38 % increase in Zn content, with no significant changes in enzyme activities (catalase and peroxidase). Furthermore, FZ-50 increased soil available Zn content and promoted soil microorganism diversity, outperforming ZnO and ZnO NPs. This study underscores the potential of FA as a relatively mature material for modifying ZnO NPs to increase grain Zn content, presenting a novel approach to addressing Zn deficiency in agriculture.

Uncovering the potential of yttrium doped zinc oxide nanoparticles as an efficient catalyst for photodegradation of recalcitrant pollutant and a contributor antibacterial property

This work focused on the development of photocatalytic and antibacterial ZnO doped nanoparticles for wastewater treatment application. ZnO nanoparticle was successfully doped via a sol-gel method with different concentration of yttrium (Y), a rare-earth element. The improved properties of the structural, optical, photocatalytic and antibacterial after the nanoparticles doping modification were analyzed. XRD analysis confirmed the hexagonal (wurtzite) structure with average crystalline size between 10 and 22.7 nm. The exhibited XRD peaks that shifted towards lower angles after doping confirmed the Y3+ substitution in the ZnO structures. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) showed an increase in grain size as the concentration of Y3+ ions inside the ZnO matrix increased. Ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared spectroscopic measurement revealed a red shift of the bandgap energy of 0.128 eV, which confirmed the substitution process. It was observed that the Y-dopant significantly improved the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO nanoparticles; 91.8 %, 72.9 %, 29.2 % and 85.0 % of 20 ppm of humic acid, 20 ppm of BPA, 20 ppm of phenol and 20 ppm of caffeine respectively under UVA light irradiation. In addition, Y-doped ZnO nanoparticle was found to be highly effective against S. aureus as compared to E. coli. The 9 wt% Y-doped ZnO (9YZnO) nanoparticles have shown no bacterial growth at both minimum inhibitory concentration/minimum bacterial concentration MIC/MBC concentration which served as evidence of the improved antibacterial properties of the modified ZnO nanoparticles. Overall, in this study Y-doped ZnO nanoparticle had shown good performance as photocatalysis material in degrading organic compounds (natural, industrial and consumable organic compounds) and antibacterial material against germ positive microorganism. Considering the developed nanoparticle's performance, its application could be an efficient alternative for water and wastewater treatment applications.

In situ PET-RAFT polymerization to prepare guanidine-and-carbohydrate modified ZnO nanoparticles

ZnO–polymer core–shell nanoparticles were successfully prepared using a simple in situ open-to-air PET-RAFT method.

Efficient and stable perovskite solar cells based on insulating polymer modified ZnO nanoparticles

Efficient and stable perovskite solar cells based on insulating polymer modified ZnO nanoparticles

Multifaceted applications of chitosan-L-ornithine modified ZnO nanoparticles: Antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer potentials

Developing polymeric inorganic nanoparticle-based nanomedicines has significantly advanced antibacterial and anticancer treatments. These innovative agents have attracted significant attention due to their unique physicochemical properties and promising efficacy in targeting bacteria and cancer cells. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the synthesis of chitosan and l-ornithine-supported zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnCsLO NPs) to assess their biological effects. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern confirmed the synthesis of ZnO and ZnCsLO NPs, with wurtzite hexagonal structure. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed nano-flake and polygonal structures for ZnO and ZnCsLO NPs, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of ZnO and ZnCsLO NPs revealed characteristic peaks such as ZnO, chitosan, and l-ornithine molecules. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ZnO and ZnCsLO NPs displayed green emission peaks at 519 nm and 527 nm respectively, attributed to oxygen vacancies and inherent defects. The antibacterial activity was tested against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains using the well diffusion method. The ZnCsLO NPs exhibited higher antibacterial activity than ZnO NPs. In terms of antioxidant activity, ZnCsLO NPs exhibited the highest scavenging activity compared to ZnO NPs against DPPH. The anticancer activity of ZnO and ZnCsLO NPs was tested against the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, where ZnCsLO NPs exhibited higher anticancer activity than ZnO NPs. Toxicity studies of ZnCsLO NPs on human fibroblast L929 showed less harmful effect on healthy cells compared to ZnO. Based on the findings of this research, there is a strong indication that ZnCsLO NPs hold great potential as a nanomaterial well-suited for advanced biomedical industrial applications.

Hybridization of cellulose nanocrystals modified ZnO nanoparticles with bio-based hyperbranched waterborne polyurethane sizing agent for superior UV resistance and interfacial properties of CF/PA6 composites

The interface of carbon fiber (CF) reinforced composites has been a long challenging issue that restricts the full utilization of its excellent properties in industrial applications. In present work, a green solvent γ-valerolactone and biogenetic derived gallic acid and tartaric acid were used to prepare a hyperbranched waterborne polyurethane (HWPU) sizing agent. Meanwhile, cellulose nanocrystal modified zinc oxide (CNC–ZnO) nanohybrids were successfully synthesized using a facile one-pot method to improve the dispersibility and specific surface area of ZnO nanoparticles. The hybridization of CNC–ZnO substantially enhanced the thermostability and UV resistance of bio-based HWPU. The mechanical properties of the modified composites were thoroughly examined, revealing remarkable enhancements in flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength, with improvements of 46.5 % and 48.1 % compared to pristine CF. Additionally, the interfacial shear strength test demonstrated a significant increase of 63.6 %. Remarkably, the modified carbon fiber composites retained more than 97 % of their mechanical properties after being subjected to continuous xenon irradiation for a week, highlighting the exceptional ultroviolet resistance derived from the hybrid HWPU sizing agent.

Effect of combined zinc oxide nanoparticles using citric acid and microwave heating on the quality of animal fat

The processing method of animal fat as a non-negligible food resource has attracted attention. ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are a widely studied inorganic antimicrobial agent. In this paper, citric acid modified ZnO nanoparticles (CA-ZnO) were prepared using citric acid for surface modification of ZnO nanoparticles. The surface modification reduced the agglomeration of ZnONPs in the water, and the particle size of CA-ZnO particles was reduced by about 4 times compared to the ZnONPs after dispersion in the water. CA-ZnO also showed a good inhibitory effect against Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus at the concentration of 0.05 g/kg. Microwave heating combined with CA-ZnO (MCCZ) had a good bactericidal effect and disrupted the integrity of bacterial cell membrane leading to leakage of cell materials and altering the secondary structure of bacterial proteins such as the reduction of α-helix. Using this method for sterilization of animal fats (a mix of same amount of chicken oil and lard), the sterilization rate of animal fats reached 99.97% after 90 s of MCCZ treatment. And MCCZ resulted in less flavor change and quality deterioration compared to traditional high temperature treatment. Therefore, MCCZ could be used as a new method to preserve the product quality of mixed chicken oil and lard.

Synthesis and characterization of phytochemical fabricated Ag doped ZnO nanoparticles with Ficus benghalensis and their enhanced antibacterial and photocatalytic applications

The use of various plant materials for the bio synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles follows the principles of green chemistry since it minimizes the amount of chemicals used. In the present work, ZnO and Ag doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized utilizing aqueous leaf extract of Ficus benghalensis. The aqueous leaf extract was screened qualitatively for the presence of chemical constituents. The nanoparticles ZnO, green modified ZnO and Ag doped ZnO were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR, EDAX and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The optical properties were studied using UV-Vis-DRS spectroscopy and a bathochromic shift is observed in the band gap energy of synthesized Ag doped ZnO. From XRD, the particle size of the ZnO, green modified ZnO and Ag doped ZnO nanoparticles was found to be 36, 39 and 53 nm respectively. Photodegradation of crystal violet dye was studied by UV-Visible spectroscopy. The degradation ability of the surface modified ZnO was found to be more efficient than that of bare ZnO and green modified ZnO nanoparticles. The photocatalytic reactions obeyed pseudo-first-order kinetics according to Langmuir- Hinshelwood model. The reuse of nanoparticles for photocatalytic activity was also studied.

Image analysis of PDMS/ZnO nanocomposite surfaces for optimized superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface design

Optimized superhydrophobic and self-cleaning nanocomposite surfaces were obtained by spraying surface modified ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) onto PDMS, using octadecylphosphonic acid and octadecanethiol as hydrophobic modifiers. In this study, it is the first time to our knowledge that surface parameters such as topography, morphology, superhydrophobicity, and self-cleaning are correlated to particle surface distribution and agglomeration parameters obtained by image analysis. The topography, morphology, and wettability of the surfaces were analyzed using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, static contact angle (SCA), and contact angle hysteresis measurements. Image analysis was performed using the new enhanced graphical user interface of a previously self-developed Matlab® algorithm. Both hydrophobization methodologies increased the NPs’ surface coverage and the hierarchical rough structure formation on the substrates, resulting in more homogenous superhydrophobic self-cleaning surfaces. A higher coated fraction and lower degree of interconnected uncoated PDMS paths are correlated to an increase in SCA. The combination of a higher agglomerates fraction, lower agglomerate radius, and lower distance between agglomerates obtained for the surfaces with hydrophobized ZnO-NPs rendered self-cleaning surfaces. The observed correlations increase the understanding of the design and modelling of superhydrophobic self-cleaning PDMS/ZnO nanocomposite surfaces for use in high voltage outdoor insulators.

Surface functionalization of ZnO nanoparticles by Schiff base oriented tetrapodal ligands at room temperature and their photocatalytic applications: A comparative account on effect of structure directing agent on photocatalysis

Surface modification of ZnO nanoparticles at room temperature and their photocatalytic activity • Synthesis of surface modified ZnO NPs i.e. P-ZnO, Q-ZnO, R-ZnO and S-ZnO by ligands P , Q , R and S respectively at room temperature of different shape and size. • Photocatalytic efficiency of P-ZnO, Q-ZnO, R-ZnO and S-ZnO towards photocatalytic degradation of Rh B dye in 90 min is ∼92%, 80%, 89% and 79% respectively. • ZnO nanoparticles modified by tetrapodal ligands having urea linker moieties (P-ZnO and R-ZnO) have shown very high photocatalytic degradation (∼89-92%). ZnO is very popular and extremely sought after semiconductor material and more so as in the nanocrystalline form. It is biocompatible having a tunable band gap (3-3.7 eV) at room temperature and popular for several optical properties of interest in many fields. Nanoparticles have a lot of surface defects which affect their stability, properties and applications. We use structure directing agents to control the morphology of ZnO nanoparticles and also to control surface defects. We utilised four Schiff base oriented tetrapodal ligands (P, Q, R and S) as the structure directing agents for synthesis of surface modified ZnO nanoparticles i.e. P-ZnO [nanospheres (50-55 nm)], Q-ZnO [nanorods of length (∼1-2 µm) and breadth (∼130-170 nm)], R-ZnO [fibrous/entangled mesh] and S-ZnO [nanorods of length (30-40 nm) and breadth (5-20 nm)] at room temperature i.e. 30-40°C. The application of P-ZnO, Q-ZnO, R-ZnO and S-ZnO are further explored for photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B dye under UV lamp (90 min). The efficiency of P-ZnO, Q-ZnO, R-ZnO and S-ZnO towards photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B dye was ∼92%, ∼80%, ∼89% and ∼79% respectively.

Modification of ZnO nanoparticles as an efficient activator for rubber vulcanization

AbstractIn the present work, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) was modified with stearic acid (SA) to form ZnO‐SA and subsequently used as an activator for natural rubber vulcanization. Modified ZnO NPs were characterized by FTIR, X‐ray diffraction, SEM, and contact angle measurement. ZnO‐SA NPs were used in the vulcanization of natural rubber (NR) and compared with unmodified ZnO NPs. It was found that ZnO‐SA NPs decreased scorch time and activation energy of the vulcanization process compared to unmodified ZnO NPs. Mechanical performances of NR vulcanized with ZnO‐SA NPs and ZnO NPs were characterized by tensile properties, hardness shore A, compression set, permanent set, and rebound resilience. ZnO‐SA NPs not only increased the vulcanization process of NR but also improved the mechanical properties. This was interpreted as an increment in crosslinking density and better compatibility of ZnO‐SA NPs with NR.

Investigating the weathering performance of epoxy silicone nanocomposite coatings containing various loadings of Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane-modified Zinc oxide nanoparticles

This research presents the modification of ZnO nanoparticles by Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) to produce hybrid nanostructured additives to improve the weathering resistance of epoxy silicone coatings. The modified ZnO nanoparticles were incorporated into epoxy silicone coatings at different loading dosages. The coatings were then weathered in an accelerated weathering chamber and removed after specific intervals (0, 500, and 1000 h) for further characterization. The effect of different loadings of modified ZnO nanoparticles (0.1, 0.5, and 1 wt%) on the weathering resistance of epoxy silicone coatings was studied using SEM, AFM, FTIR, and contact angle measurement, UV–visible spectroscopy, optical microscope, gloss, Vickers hardness, and gonio-spectrophotometer. All results showed that the addition of modified nanoparticles effectively promoted (6 times improvement based on carbonyl index) the weathering resistance of the epoxy silicone coating. It was also concluded that the coatings filled at a low level (0.1 wt%) of GPTMS-modified ZnO provided much more superior weathering performance than those loaded with higher filler content (0.5 and 1 wt%). It was explained by the more crosslinked network formed and the fine distribution of modified filler within the matrix at low filler content.

Performance evaluation and optimization of ZnO-PVP nanoparticles for photocatalytic wastewater treatment: Interactions between UV light intensity and nanoparticles dosage

In recent decades, the application of nanoparticles for environmental remediation purposes has received great attention due to their promising removal efficiency. In this research, we evaluated photocatalytic performance of synthesized zinc oxide-polyvinylpyrrolidone (ZnO-PVP) as modified ZnO nanoparticles for chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction and phosphate removal from municipal wastewater. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of UV light intensity and ZnO-PVP dosage on photocatalytic treatment was investigated. To do this, after characterization of the synthesized ZnO-PVP nanoparticles by SEM, EDX, FTIR, XRD, UV–Vis DR spectroscopy and BET analysis, the effect of ZnO-PVP and single ZnO treatment on COD reduction and phosphate removal was compared using different dosages of nanoparticles (1, 1.5, 2 and 2,5 g/L). The interaction effects of UV light intensity and nanoparticles dosage were investigated by performing 12 batch experiments. The results proved that using ZnO-PVP could improve the photocatalytic treatment of COD (from 63% to 83%) and phosphate (from 68% to 87%), in comparison with single ZnO. It has been observed that UV light intensity directly affects ZnO-PVP photocatalytic treatments performance. Maximum removal efficiencies of 95% and 97% were achieved for COD and phosphate, respectively, under optimal condition of ZnO-PVP dosage of 1.5 g/L and UV intensity of 2293 mW/cm2. This research suggests that under the optimal condition, ZnO-PVP nanoparticles can be used as a promising approach for COD reduction and phosphate removal from wastewater.