Synthesis of Activated Carbon/ZnO Nanocomposite Using Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon) Seed Shells for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Chlorpyrifos Pesticide

Abstract:

Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using ethanol extract of avocado fruit (Persea americana) peel with zinc nitrate hexahydrate as ZnO precursor has been conducted. Phytochemicals contained in the ethanol extract of avocado fruit peels such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins and phenolics acted as reducing agents, stabilizers and capping agents in green synthesis of ZnO NPs. ZnO NPs further were modified with 1 wt% of activated carbon (AC) derived from melinjo seed shell using hydrothermal method and was evaluated on degradation of chlorpyrifos pesticide. The structural, morphological and optical properties of ZnO NPs, activated carbon and 1 wt % of activated carbon/ZnO (1 wt %-AC/ZnO) nanocomposite were characterized by using the X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) instrument, Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy UV-Vis (DRS UV-Vis) and Brunaeur Emmet Teller (BET). The result showed that the synthesized ZnO NPs were in the zincite crystal phase, while the activated carbon obtained was in amorphous phase. The addition of 1 wt% activated carbon into ZnO NPs caused a decrease in the band gap energy of ZnO NPs. The photocatalytic activity evaluation showed that 1 wt %-AC/ZnO nanocomposite has higher activity than that of bare ZnO NPs. The 1 wt %-AC/ZnO nanocomposite can degrade 90.11% of chlorpyrifos compare with bare ZnO NPs that only degrade 79.30% of chlorpyrifos. The photodegradation evaluation of chlorpyrifos were conducted in the same condition by using 300 mg of 1 wt %-AC/ZnO nanocomposite, the initial pH of chlorpyrifos solution was 7, the initial concentration of chlorpyrifos was 6 mg/L, and the irradiation time under UV light was 4 hours.

• Periodical: Defect and Diffusion Forum (Volume 438)
• Pages: 29-40
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-Uq7IOO
• Online since: February 2025
• Authors: Surya Lubis*, Irfan Mustafa, Sheilatina Sheilatina, Wilda Rahmi
• Keywords: Activated Carbon, Chlorpyrifos, Gnetum Gnemon, Nanocomposite, Persea Americana, Photodegradation, ZnO

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