Synthesis, characterization, wastewater treatment & plant growth application of ZnFe2O4/Bi2O3 nanocomposite
D. M. Tejashwini, H.P. Nagaswarupa, Ramachandra Naik, N. Basavaraju, Abdullah N. Alodhayb, Saravanan Pandiaraj, Burragoni Sravanthi Goud, Jae‐Hong Kim
Abstract
Vital for the prospective and sustainable environment, Bi2O3, ZnFe2O4 and ZnFe2O4/Bi2O3 (BZF) nanocomposite was synthesized in the present study by utilizing conventional combustion technique by green approach fueling with Aloe vera extract. The crystallite size calculated using Debye-Scherrer formula from X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) spectrum of BZF nanocomposite is ∼27 nm validated by XRD spectrum. Band gap of the nanocomposite is estimated using UV-Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectra (DRS) analysis and was found to be 2.73 eV. The findings of the investigations have been validated by applications in photocatalytic degradation of acid green dye. The usage of Bi2O3, ZnFe2O4 and BZF nanocomposite as a catalyst for the degradation of acid green (AG) dye being subjected to visible light at ambient temperature results in improved photocatalytic response for Bi2O3, ZnFe2O4 and BZF nanocomposite was 88 %, 93 % and 97 % for 120 min respectively. Notably, the environmental impact of the entire technique has been examined in terms of the development of green gram plants displaying effective plant growth using the treated dye wastewater.