Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles Using Ficus benghalensis for Visible Light-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Crystal Violet and Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities.

Abstract

Crystal Violet (CV) is a vibrant and harmful dye known for its toxicity to aquatic life and potential carcinogenic effects on humans. This study explores the removal of CV through photocatalysis driven by visible light, as well as examining the antibacterial and antibiofilm characteristics of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) synthesized from the aerial roots of Ficus benghalensis. Various characterization techniques were employed to confirm the optical properties, crystal lattices, and morphology of ZnO NPs. TEM images showed that the ZnO NPs had a spherical shape, with an average size of 40 to 80 nm. The photocatalytic analysis revealed that the synthesized ZnO NPs exhibited substantial activity under visible light, effectively degrading 90.6% of CV in an aqueous solution. The antibacterial activity of synthesized ZnO NPs was evaluated against clinically relevant bacterial strains such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis, revealing notable zones of inhibition. Moreover, the ZnO NPs exhibited antibiofilm activity of 96.8 ± 0.5% and 98.3 ± 0.3% against P. aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the potential of the synthesized ZnO NPs as a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment and antibacterial applications.