ZnO-Xanthan Gum Nanocomposite: Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Remazol Red Dye in Batik Wastewater

Abstract:

Batik is a traditional textile dyeing technique that UNESCO has recognized. The batik industry produces wastewater from the dyeing process containing Remazol Red, a carcinogenic and persistent azo dye that poses significant risks to the environment and human health. This study reports the synthesis of Zinc Oxide-Xanthan Gum nanocomposites (ZnO-XG NCs) through the sol-gel method, utilizing Zn-acetate dihydrate (Zn(CH₃COO)₂ž2H₂O) and Xanthan Gum biopolymer. Characterization shows that the addition of Xanthan Gum polymer matrix causes quantum confinement and defects in the material, which reduces the crystal size from 73.82 nm (ZnO) to 45.62 nm (ZnO-XG NCs) and narrows the band gap value from 3.21 eV to 3.08 eV (by the Tauc plot method). This band gap spans the visible and ultraviolet spectrum ranges, enabling photocatalytic activity to utilize direct sunlight as a source of photon energy. The visible light intensity of sunlight at 10.00 to 14.00 West Indonesia Time (WIT) is 79-85 klux, and the UV intensity is 2.38-2.88 mW/cm². The ZnO-XG NCs can degrade remazol red by 99.9% in batik wastewater within 150 min with pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics (k=0.0388 cm^-1). These results highlight the potential of ZnO-XG as an efficient and sustainable photocatalyst for treating dye-containing wastewater from the batik industry, offering an environmentally friendly solution to mitigate pollution while supporting the preservation of cultural heritage.

• Periodical: Journal of Metastable and Nanocrystalline Materials (Volume 44)
• Pages: 39-46
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-i0NkEs
• Online since: August 2026
• Authors: Hasan Rahmat*, Sarto Sarto, Lisendra Marbelia
• Keywords: Photodegradation, Remazol Red Dye, Sunlight Irradiation, ZnO-Xanthan Gum Nanocompocite

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