Green synthesis of TiO۲ nanoparticle : its characterization and potential application in Zoxamide photodegradation.

This article reports the green synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO۲ NPs) from aqueous leaf extract of Trema Orientalis (L) and its effectiveness in photodegradation process of zoxamide under UV irradiation(λ max ≥ ۲۵۰ nm) . Titanium (IV) isopropoxide act as the precursor and leaf extract act as the reducing agent. The synthesized TiO۲ NPs are confirmed by the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and the crystalline size was calculated by the Scherrer’s formula(۵۲nm) and as well as Williaman-Hall(W-H) equation(۵۹ nm). The Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis shows the stability and particle size approximately ۸۸-۹۴ nm of the synthesized TiO۲ NPs. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirms the presence of various functional groups in the synthesized NPs. The UV absorption wavelength observed at the peak of ۳۵۱ nm and the calculated energy band gap is found to be ۳.۲۷eV. The surface morphology of the synthesized TiO۲ NPs is determined by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The rate of photodegradation of zoxamide in acetonitrile/water solvent system followed pseudo first-order kinetics, and calculated half-lives were found to be in the range of ۲.۳۳ -۱۰.۴۶ h. From this study, one photoproduct was isolated and characterized on the basis of column chromatography, mass spectral data and X-ray crystallography. The isolated photoproduct was identified as ۳,۵-dichloro-۴ methyl benzoic acid. The plausible mechanistic pathway of formation of the photoproduct is also depicted. Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L–H) kinetic model was proposed for the rate equation of the zoxamide photodegradation in presence of TiO۲ NPs under UV irradiation.

Keywords:

Keywords: TiO۲ NPs , Trema Orientalis(L) , photocatalyst , UV irradiation , Fungicide