Modification of waste beet pulp shreds with zinc oxide nanoparticles through adsorption to provide material with antimicrobial properties

This research investigates the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and their adsorption onto waste beet pulp shreds (BPS) to create an antimicrobial composite material. ZnO-NPs with an average particle size of 50 nm were successfully synthesized and characterized using dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The BPS-ZnO-NPs composite was evaluated for its antimicrobial properties against a range of microbial strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. The results showed that BPS-ZnO-NPs exhibited inhibition values of 92% against S. aureus, 96% against C. albicans, 94% against E. coli and 45% against A. niger, demonstrating significant antimicrobial potential. The adsorption capacity of ZnO-NPs onto BPS was found to be 181.8 mg/g, with an increasing trend in adsorption capacity observed as the Zn(OH)₂ concentration increased, although a decrease in removal efficiency was noted at higher concentrations due to surface saturation. This study highlights the promising use of BPS-ZnO-NPs as an antimicrobial material, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional antimicrobial agents, with a focus on utilizing waste materials in the creation of effective, low-cost composites.