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Enzymes and phytochemicals from neem extract robustly tuned the photocatalytic activity of ZnO for the degradation of malachite green (MG) in aqueous media

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Abstract

The malachite green (MG) is very difficult to degrade in water; thus, it needs an efficient photocatalyst. In this study, neem extract was used to tune the surface and crystal properties of ZnO nanostructures for the photodegradation of MG. The biosynthesized ZnO samples were prepared by hydrothermal method in the presence of 5, 10 and 15 mL of neem extract. The structural characterization has shown nanoparticle like morphology of ZnO as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and hexagonal phase was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The XRD analysis has shown a shift in the 2 theta towards lower angle for ZnO with increasing amount of neem extract. Also, the crystallite particle size of ZnO was decreased with increasing neem extract. The UV–visible spectroscopy has shown the decrease in the optical band gap of ZnO, and the lowest band gap is possessed by ZnO sample produced with 15 mL of neem extract. The ZnO sample obtained with 15 mL of neem extract has shown approximately 99% degradation efficiency for MG for 70 min in aqueous solution. The superior photocatalytic activity of ZnO sample with 15 mL of neem extract could be attributed from the decrease in charge recombination rate due to the decreased optical band gap and particle size.

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Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), Jamshoro, Sindh for their support. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP-2020/79) at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Sindh Jamshoro, Jamshoro, 76080, Sindh, Pakistan

    Muhammad Ali Bhatti & Khalida Faryal Almani

  2. Dr. M.A Kazi Institute of Chemistry, University of Sindh Jamshoro, Jamshoro, 76080, Sindh, Pakistan

    Zafar Hussain Ibupoto

  3. NED University of Engineering and Technology Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

    Ali dad Chandio

  4. Department of Science and Technology, Linkoping University, Campus Norrkoping, 60174, Norrkoping, Sweden

    Aneela Tahira

  5. Institute of Physics, University of Sindh Jamshoro, Jamshoro, 76080, Sindh, Pakistan

    Adeel Liaquat Bhatti

  6. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Ayman Nafady

  7. Department of Fresh Water Biology and Fisheries, University of Sindh Jamshoro, Jamshoro, 76080, Sindh, Pakistan

    Baradi Waryani

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  1. Muhammad Ali Bhatti
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Bhatti, M.A., Tahira, A., Chandio, A.d. et al. Enzymes and phytochemicals from neem extract robustly tuned the photocatalytic activity of ZnO for the degradation of malachite green (MG) in aqueous media. Res Chem Intermed 47, 1581–1599 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-020-04391-6

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