Environmentally Friendly Synthesis of NiO Nanoparticles from Juglans regia L. Shell Waste and Photocatalytic Performance Against Dyes
摘要
In this study, NiO nanoparticles were produced using the green synthesis approach, an environmentally friendly method. These nanoparticles were used as photocatalysts to convert the hazardous organic dyes methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) into non-toxic degradation products. GHW-NiO NPs were synthesized using an extremely low-cost and environmentally friendly method involving the green husk extract of Juglans regia L. The extract prepared from the green husks that are waste products after the walnut harvest supported the synthesis of NiO nanoparticles due to its reducing and stabilising functions. The morphological structure and average diameters of GHW-NiO nanoparticles were characterized using a high-resolution TEM device. Additionally, spectral techniques such as XRD to analyse the crystal structure of nanoparticles, UV-Vis spectrophotometry to measure and evaluate the amount of absorbance in the solution phase, and FT-IR spectroscopy to identify the organic components surrounding and accumulating on the surface of the nanoparticle were employed. The aqueous solution of the prepared NiO NPs was found to exhibit maximum absorbance at 292 nm and have an average diameter of 15.8 nm. NiO nanoparticles used as a catalyst removed 76.92% of MB dye in 50 min and 75.41% of MO dye in 25 min under the light of a High-Pressure Mercury Vapour Lamp. These results demonstrate that the HPMV lamp light effectively converts MB and MO dye into harmless reactants using NiO nanoparticles synthesised by an environmentally friendly method.
Graphical Abstract