Utilization of Lidah mertua (Sansevieria trifasciata) extract for green synthesis of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticle as visible-light responsive photocatalyst for dye degradation

Abstract

Synthetic dye waste, without going through the well-treatment process, has the potential to pollute the aquatic environment because it contains organic pollutants that are difficult to degrade naturally. One effective method for dye waste treatment is photodegradation using a photocatalyst-based zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) nanoparticle. This research was successfully synthesised ZnFe2O4 nanoparticle by hydrothermal mediated-Lidah mertua (Sansevieria trifasciata) plant extract as more environmentally friendly capping agent. ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles have a crystal size within range of 26.15–37.17 nm, cubic spinel structure, particle size of 5–20 nm and band gap energy (Eg) of 1.8 eV. ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were proven effective in methylene blue photodegradation of 95.33 % after exposure to mercury lamp irradiation for 2 h at a methylene blue concentration of 30 ppm, a ZnFe2O4 mass of 0.01 % (w/v) and a pH of 12. In addition, this ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles can degrade methylene blue for four cycles with a degradation efficiency of 95.33%–76.95 % better than ZnO.

Keywords

• Degradation
• Methylene blue
• Photocatalytic
• ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles