Eco-friendly synthesis of CeO2 NPs using Aloe barbadensis Mill extract: Its biological and photocatalytic activities for industrial dye treatment applications

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs) prepared by green (Aloe barbadensis Mill) assisted combustion technique as antimicrobial agent against uropathogenic bacterial species such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus PPBS1. Powder XRD confirms the phase formation and average particle size (13 nm) measured by Scherrer's formula. UV-Visible reflectances show the energy band gap of CeO2NPs as 3.2 eV. The highest maximum zone of inhibition was found to be P aeruginosa (10±1 mm) and minimum inhibitory concentration for P aeruginos, E coli and K pneumoniae was found to be 1 µg/mL, 3 µg/mL and 1 µg/mL respectively. Antifungal activity was observed against Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus PPBS1 and maximum growth inhibition was found to be 3 cm and the percentage of inhibition was found to be 75% at 5 µg/mL. CeO2NPs showed an excellent photodecoloration of Reactive Blue-4 and Indigo Carmine dye solutions of 88% and 97% degradation at 120 min of time intervals respectively under UV–visible irradiation.

Keywords

• Cerium oxide NPs
• Antibacterial activity
• Antifungal activity
• Photocatalysis