Green Synthesis and Photocatalytic Performance of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Organic Dye Degradation in Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

The increasing discharge of dye-containing industrial wastewater from textile, leather, paper, pharmaceutical, and printing industries has become a significant environmental concern due to its adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health. Conventional wastewater treatment methods often fail to achieve complete mineralization of persistent organic dyes because of their complex molecular structures and high chemical stability. Semiconductor metal oxide nanoparticles have emerged as promising photocatalysts for advanced wastewater treatment owing to their high surface area, excellent catalytic activity, and environmental compatibility. Among various semiconductor materials, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have attracted considerable attention because of their wide band gap, strong ultraviolet absorption, high electron mobility, low toxicity, and cost-effective synthesis