Novel green approach based on ZnO nanoparticles and polysaccharides for photocatalytic performance

Novel Green photocatalystic based on ZnO in the presence of Arabic Gum (AGZ) or Karaya Gum (KGZ) was synthesized by sol-gel method for photocatalytic performance. The materials were characterized by: XRD, FTIR, SEM, Nitrogen adsorption/desorption, PL and Diffuse Reflectance. The photocatalytic test was performed using methylene blue (MB) dye as the target pollutant under visible light. The reuse of photocatalysts and artemia saline bioassays were investigated. The ZnO nanoparticles showed hexagonal structure and the value of band gap was 2.95 (AGZ) and 2.98 eV (KGZ). PL results demonstrated emission bands in 440, 473 or 478 and 549 nm. The textural properties indicated the presence of typically mesoporous material. The MB discoloration efficiency was 81.5% and 91.0% for AGZ and KGZ, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of AGZ and KGZ was kept after the third runs. The ●OH radicals play the main species involved in the MB discoloration. The MB discoloration from photocatalysts showed no toxicity, therefore demonstrating to be promising materials for the degradation of dye in the photocatalysis process.