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<p>This work reports an environmentally benign strategy for producing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoflowers from rubber fig (<i>Ficus elastica</i>) leaf extract and assesses their efficacy in sunlight-assisted degradation of levofloxacin. UV-visible spectrum displayed a clear absorption band at 373&#xa0;nm, characteristic of ZnO nanoparticles. Field-emission scanning electron microscopic images showed flower-like nanostructures, and Fourier transform infrared spectra showed phytochemical functional moieties from the leaf extract that assist nanoparticle formation and stabilize the surface. X-ray diffraction patterns endorsed the crystallinity with a mean crystallite dimension of 44.86&#xa0;nm and lattice parameters matching the hexagonal wurtzite structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy further verified Zn<sup>2+</sup> through Zn 2p3∕2 and Zn 2p1∕2 peaks at 1021.32 and 1044.42&#xa0;eV, a lattice oxygen signal at 529.9&#xa0;eV, and minor C 1s contributions from residual phytochemicals, indicating high purity and a structurally stable lattice. Photoluminescence spectra showed a near-band-edge ultraviolet emission at 403&#xa0;nm together with visible bands associated with defect-related states. Under natural sunlight, the ZnO nanoflowers consistently degraded levofloxacin, and the removal improved as the catalyst dose increased. The dataset follows a pseudo-first-order expression; the estimated rate constants span 0.0044 to 0.0056&#xa0;min<sup>− 1</sup> and R<sup>2</sup>&gt; 0.99. The rise in performance at higher loadings aligns with a larger number of accessible surface sites and more efficient formation of reactive oxygen species. Collectively, ZnO nanoflowers synthesized by a green route show strong promise for the sustainable treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater.</p>

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Eco-friendly flower-like ZnO nanostructures for photocatalytic treatment of levofloxacin-contaminated wastewater

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月27日

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  • Raja Selvaraj,
  • Stuthi A. Shetty,
  • Sujesh Sudarsan,
  • Thivaharan Varadavenkatesan,
  • Ramesh Vinayagam

摘要

This work reports an environmentally benign strategy for producing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoflowers from rubber fig (Ficus elastica) leaf extract and assesses their efficacy in sunlight-assisted degradation of levofloxacin. UV-visible spectrum displayed a clear absorption band at 373 nm, characteristic of ZnO nanoparticles. Field-emission scanning electron microscopic images showed flower-like nanostructures, and Fourier transform infrared spectra showed phytochemical functional moieties from the leaf extract that assist nanoparticle formation and stabilize the surface. X-ray diffraction patterns endorsed the crystallinity with a mean crystallite dimension of 44.86 nm and lattice parameters matching the hexagonal wurtzite structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy further verified Zn2+ through Zn 2p3∕2 and Zn 2p1∕2 peaks at 1021.32 and 1044.42 eV, a lattice oxygen signal at 529.9 eV, and minor C 1s contributions from residual phytochemicals, indicating high purity and a structurally stable lattice. Photoluminescence spectra showed a near-band-edge ultraviolet emission at 403 nm together with visible bands associated with defect-related states. Under natural sunlight, the ZnO nanoflowers consistently degraded levofloxacin, and the removal improved as the catalyst dose increased. The dataset follows a pseudo-first-order expression; the estimated rate constants span 0.0044 to 0.0056 min− 1 and R2> 0.99. The rise in performance at higher loadings aligns with a larger number of accessible surface sites and more efficient formation of reactive oxygen species. Collectively, ZnO nanoflowers synthesized by a green route show strong promise for the sustainable treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater.