Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO and Clay Supported ZnO Nanoparticles and Their Catalytic and Antibacterial Applications.

Abstract

The recent studies have shown that the contaminants from the industries, polluting the water which makes the water incompetent to animals as well as to human beings. Nanoparticles come up with a wide range of properties like high photochemical reactivity and it works under gentle response condition and used in water purification. In this work, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized from zinc nitrate and were characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometer, XRD, BET surface analyzer and DRS. Doping of ZnO nanoparticles into clay enhanced the applications of ZnO by increasing its surface area. Montmorillonite clays with a layered structure, high surface area; porosity were used as an inner support and acted as an active surface enhancer for ZnO nanoparticles. Methylene blue dye and nitrophenols are the most widely recognized natural contaminants, which was reduced in water by ZnO/Clay composite. Upon with the comparison between ZnO/Clay composite and only ZnO the rate of reaction was very fast in ZnO/Clay composite. ZnO/Clay composite act as reducing agent as it reduced the 4-NP to aminophenol. In addition to the earth and for the general well-being too, microbes are unsafe. The antibacterial activity performed using ZnO/Clay composites, showed efficient results by inhibiting the growth of E.Coli culture. ZnO nanoparticles and its metal oxides were used and pulled the nanoparticles in broad intrigue.