Characterization, Antibacterial Activity, and Dye Removal Capacity of Green and Hydrothermal Green Synthesized ZnO Nanostructures Using Crataegus Orientalis

Abstract

In this study, the cost-effective and environmentally friendly green synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures is reported using Crataegus orientalis fruit extract with green synthesis (GS) and hydrothermal-assisted green synthesis (HTGS) methods. The optical, structural, and morphological characteristics of the synthesized ZnO nanostructures are examined by UV–vis Spectroscopy (UV–vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) supported with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). XRD patterns confirmed that the synthesized ZnO nanostructures have a hexagonal single phase. The average crystallite size and optical bandgap values are obtained as 31 and 27 nm, 2.8 and 3.02 eV, for GS-ZnO and HTGS-ZnO nanostructures, respectively. The synthesized HTGS-ZnO and GS-ZnO nanostructures are used as a catalyst in the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye and show excellent degradation activity of 99% after 120 min of UV illumination. In addition, it is found that HTGS-ZnO and GS-ZnO nanostructures have a higher antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 than ZnO nanostructures synthesized by chemical methods. Moreover, since both synthesis methods show similar results, the GS method, which is lower cost, simpler, and less time-consuming than the HTGS technique, can be recommended to synthesize ZnO nanostructures using Crataegus orientalis.