Biosynthesis of zirconium oxide nanoparticles using Wrightia tinctoria leaf extract: Characterization, photocatalytic degradation and antibacterial activities

Abstract

The biosynthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles provides an effective alternative to the chemical synthesis system. In the present work, biosynthesis of Zirconium Oxide nanopartices (ZrO2-NPs) using Wrightia tinctoria leaf extract for the evaluation of efficient photocatalyst and antibacterial activities. The ZrO2-NPs were studied with help of XRD, UV–Visible, SEM with EDAX, DLS, ZE, PL and FT-IR. The ZrO2-NPs were in tetragonal crystal structure which confirmed by using X-ray diffraction analysis and its average crystallite size was 9.15 nm. The photocatalytic degradation of organic dye Reactive Yellow (RY 160) under sunlight irradiation using biosynthesized ZrO2-NPs was performed. The biosynthesized ZrO2-NPs exhibited 94% degradation for RY 160 dye for 120 min. The antibacterial activity of different concentrations of the biosynthesized ZrO2-NPs was examined against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.