Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Leaves Extract of Alchornea cordifolia and Catalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange

International Journal of Chemistry | Vol. 13, No. 12, December 2022 | pp. 89–96

DOI: 10.46882/2022/IJC/000170

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Leaves Extract of Alchornea cordifolia and Catalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange

Names of Authors: S. I. Musa¹, C. R. de Souza²*

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Department of Chemistry, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
²Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Abstract: The biological synthesis of noble metal and metal oxide nanomaterials using tropical flora presents an eco-friendly and economically sustainable alternative to hazardous chemical reduction pathways. This study describes the green synthesis of stable zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) utilizing the aqueous leaf extract of Alchornea cordifolia as a powerful reducing and capping agent. The bioreduction process was monitored via UV-Vis spectrophotometry, which revealed a distinct surface plasmon resonance peak at 370 nm, confirming the nucleation of metallic oxides. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses showed highly spherical nanoparticles with an average particle diameter of 18 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the wurtzite hexagonal crystalline structure of the biosynthesized zinc oxide. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy indicated that water-soluble polyphenols and flavonoids within the leaf matrix were responsible for capping and protecting the ZnO-NPs against structural agglomeration. The catalytic efficiency of the synthesized ZnO-NPs was evaluated by tracking the chemical reduction of methyl orange dye by sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) in an aqueous system under solar exposure. The reaction achieved 96.8% decolorization within 12 minutes. The dye degradation kinetics conformed tightly to the pseudo-first-order kinetic model with a rate constant of 0.295 min⁻¹, indicating excellent catalytic potential for textile wastewater treatment arrays.

Keywords: Zinc oxide nanoparticles; Green synthesis; Alchornea cordifolia; Biosynthesis; Heterogeneous catalysis; Methyl orange

Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 12, 2021; Revised: November 24, 2021; Accepted: December 18, 2021; Published: December 04, 2022.

Citation: Musa, S. I., & de Souza, C. R. (2022). Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Leaves Extract of Alchornea cordifolia and Catalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange. International Journal of Chemistry, 13(12), 89–96.

Subscribe to read the full article: https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/subscribe-to-read