Modification of waste beet pulp shreds with zinc oxide nanoparticles through adsorption to provide material with antimicrobial propertiesJarosław Chwastowski and Paweł Staroń Department of Engineering and Chemical Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Kraków, Poland
E-mail: jaroslaw.chwastowski@pk.edu.pl Received: 26 March 2024 Accepted: 10 February 2025 Abstract: This research investigates the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and their adsorption onto waste beet pulp shreds (BPS) to create an antimicrobial composite material. ZnO-NPs with an average particle size of 50 nm were successfully synthesized and characterized using dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The BPS-ZnO-NPs composite was evaluated for its antimicrobial properties against a range of microbial strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. The results showed that BPS-ZnO-NPs exhibited inhibition values of 92% against S. aureus, 96% against C. albicans, 94% against E. coli and 45% against A. niger, demonstrating significant antimicrobial potential. The adsorption capacity of ZnO-NPs onto BPS was found to be 181.8 mg/g, with an increasing trend in adsorption capacity observed as the Zn(OH)2 concentration increased, although a decrease in removal efficiency was noted at higher concentrations due to surface saturation. This study highlights the promising use of BPS-ZnO-NPs as an antimicrobial material, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional antimicrobial agents, with a focus on utilizing waste materials in the creation of effective, low-cost composites. Keywords: Zinc oxide nanoparticles; Antimicrobial properties; Adsorption; Green chemistry; Circular economy Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com. DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-03957-1
Chemical Papers 79 (4) 2541–2555 (2025) |
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