Igniting a greener future by flame synthesized zirconium oxide nanoparticles through dye adsorption

Zirconium dioxide nanoparticles (ZrO₂ NPs) were synthesized using simple, lucrative and easily scalable flame pyrolysis method by directly burning the precursor solution in air. ZrO₂ NPs were collected in the form of white soot one from cold surface of conical Flask (F-ZrO₂ NPs) and another from direct crucible (C-ZrO₂ NPs). The synthesized ZrO₂ NPs were characterized by various techniques viz., Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM). The synthesised ZrO₂ NPs demonstrated the monoclinic (m-ZrO₂) and tetragonal (t-ZrO₂) mixed phases with an average crystalline size of 16.96 nm. The morphological analysis elucidated the uniform distribution of spherically shaped ZrO₂ NPs. The dye degradation performance of synthesized nanoparticles was experienced for the complexed structured Methylene Blue (MB) azo dye meant for environmental applications. The synthesized nanoparticles demonstrated excellent dye removal efficiency of 97.90% along with successful reusability up to six cycles for removal of aqueous Methylene Blue (MB) hazardous colorant dye. So, the synthesised ZrO₂ NPs designated as finest contender for the wastewater treatment and various environmental applications.

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