Multifunctional ZnO materials prepared by a versatile green carbohydrate-assisted combustion method for environmental remediation applications

Abstract Nanosized ZnO has been prepared following a non-polluting, straightforward, and flexible combustion synthesis method, using as biofuels starch and cellulose, and as zinc source nitrate and acetate. While the crystallite size and the surface area of the ZnO materials are to a certain extent sensible of the post-thermal processing temperature, the defect chemistry is dependent on reductant/oxidant ratio. The obtained ZnO materials, particularly the oxides obtained from carbohydrate-nitrate precursors present considerable photodegradation activity upon two hazardous EDCs phenolic wastes and excellent antimicrobial efficiency against planktonic Gram negative and positive strains. Both results can be explained by an optimum defects configuration of these oxides. The photocatalytic and biocidal efficiency associated with the easy and complete recovery from the treated wastewaters proves the potential toward environmental remediation applications of these “two in one“ formulations.