Abatement of organic and inorganic pollutants from drinking water by using commercial and laboratory‑synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles

摘要

ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized and applied for the removal of different environmental pollutants in thepresent study. Combustion method is used for the preparation of ZnO NPs. X-Ray diffraction pattern reveals the crystallinityof the nanoparticles, where SEM and TEM images displayed that ZnO NPs were of size less than 100 nm andnearly spherical in shape. UV–Vis and IR spectra revealed the formation of ZnO NPs. Adsorption and advanced oxidationprocesses were employed for the removal/degradation of trace elements/pesticide. UV reactor containing 1 UV rod of11 W (Philips) was used for the photocatalytic degradation of pesticide. ICP–OES and GC–MS techniques were used forthe further quantitative analysis of trace elements and OP pesticide-monocrotophos, respectively. The analysis showsthe 88% degradation of monocrotophos when subjected to UV light in the reaction chamber for 120 min at a pH 4 when2 g of nanocatalyst is applied. However, the removal of trace element Arsenic shows linear adsorption as compared toCd and Se. The removal efficiency of ZnO nanoparticles for Cd and Se was 36% and 64%, respectively, after 120 min. Thesynthesized nanoparticles are more effective than the commercially available ones.