Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles Using Leaves Extract of Quisqualis Indica (Madhumalti): Textile Effluent Treatment and their WQI Study

Abstract

Industrial effluents, which often contain harmful pollutants such as organic compounds, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals, pose a serious environmental threat. These wastes are frequently discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment, leading to severe water pollution that harms aquatic life, ecosystems, and human health. Nanotechnology presents an innovative and effective solution for water purification, particularly in treating industrial waste. Nanomaterials, due to their high surface area, reactivity, and adsorption capacity, are highly effective in removing contaminants like heavy metals and dyes. This study focuses on the green synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using Quisqualisindica and evaluates their efficiency in purifying industrial wastewater. Standard protocols were followed for both the synthesis and analysis. The results were promising: after treating textile effluents with the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles, the water became odourless and clear, with significant reductions in turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride levels, and conductivity. These findings suggest that ZnO nanoparticles synthesized via green methods can serve as efficient adsorbents for industrial effluent treatment.

Introduction

1. Introduction

Industrial effluents contain harmful pollutants like heavy metals, organic compounds, and toxic chemicals. These pose severe environmental and health risks if not properly treated. Traditional wastewater treatment methods often fail to remove complex contaminants effectively.

Nanotechnology, particularly the use of nanoparticles (NPs) like zinc oxide (ZnO), offers a promising solution due to their:

• High surface area

• Strong adsorption capacity

• Photocatalytic properties

Green synthesis of metal-based nanoparticles using plant extracts is gaining popularity as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods. This approach avoids hazardous chemicals and enhances biocompatibility.

2. Study Objective

The study explores the green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using leaf extract of Quisqualis indica (Rangoon creeper) and evaluates their efficacy in treating textile industrial wastewater.

3. Literature Review Highlights

• Nanomaterials show high pollutant removal via adsorption and photocatalysis.

• Green-synthesized ZnO NPs are sustainable, non-toxic, and highly efficient.

• Prior research confirms successful nanoparticle synthesis using various plant extracts and their effectiveness in water purification.

4. Materials & Methods

A. Materials Used

• Plant leaves (10g) for reducing agents

• Zinc acetate & NaOH (2.5N) as precursor and pH controller

• Textile effluent (100 ml) as the test sample

• Glassware, centrifuge, oven for synthesis and drying

B. Effluent Analysis Parameters

• pH

• Conductivity

• Alkalinity

• Chloride

• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
  Standard analytical methods and instruments were used for these tests.

C. Synthesis Process

1. Plant Extract: Leaves boiled and filtered.

2. Precursor Solutions: Zinc acetate and NaOH prepared.

3. Reaction Mixture: Plant extract, zinc acetate, and NaOH combined in various ratios, heated at 70°C for 1 hour.

4. Post-processing: Mixture was filtered, centrifuged (4000 rpm, 12 min), and dried at 400°C for 4 hours to yield ZnO nanoparticles.

5. Results and Discussion

A. Water Quality Improvement

• The treatment led to a significant reduction in conductivity, chloride content, and TDS, bringing them closer to WHO safety limits.

• A slight increase in alkalinity and pH was observed but remained within acceptable limits.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles effectively remove dyes and organic pollutants from textile wastewater due to their photocatalytic and adsorptive properties. They offer a more affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional treatment methods. However, further research is needed to address challenges such as environmental impact, recovery, and reuse, especially for large-scale applications.

References

[1] Palani, G., Arputhalatha, A., Kannan, K., Lakkaboyana, S. K., Hanafiah, M. M., Kumar, V., & Marella, R. K. (2021). Current trends in the application of nanomaterials for the removal of pollutants from industrial wastewater treatment—a review. Molecules, 26(9), 2799. [2] Vinayagam, Y., Venkatraman, G., & Rajeswari, V. D. (2025). Sustainable treatment of glass industry wastewater using biogenic Zinc oxide nanoparticles: Antibacterial and photocatalytic efficacy. International Biodeterioration& Biodegradation, 200, 106036. [3] Mirgane, N. A., Shivankar, V. S., Kotwal, S. B., Wadhawa, G. C., & Sonawale, M. C. (2021). Waste pericarp of ananascomosus in green synthesis zinc oxide nanoparticles and their application in waste water treatment. Materials Today: Proceedings, 37, 886-889. [4] Nadu, T. (2022). Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from the leaf Extract of QuisqualisIndica L. for Enhanced Antibacterial activity. [5] Mirgane, N. A., Shivankar, V. S., Kotwal, S. B., Wadhawa, G. C., & Sonawale, M. C. (2021). Waste pericarp of ananascomosus in green synthesis zinc oxide nanoparticles and their application in waste water treatment. Materials Today: Proceedings, 37, 886-889. [6] Vasantharaj, S., Sathiyavimal, S., Senthilkumar, P., Kalpana, V. N., Rajalakshmi, G., Alsehli, M., ...&Pugazhendhi, A. (2021). Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of water pollutants using bio-green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 9(4), 105772. [7] Sen, P., & Mehta, R. ANALYSIS OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS OF SOME VILLAGES OF DEOLI TEHSIL (TONK) VILLAGES OF DEOLI TEHSIL (TONK). [8] Sen, P., Saxena, A., Mehta, P., & Mehta, R. (2024). Analysis of Groundwater Quality in Semi-arid Region of Eastern-South Rajasthan on the Basis of Water Quality Index (WQI). Journal of Geomatics, 18(2), 15-23.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Aashna Shringi, Vivek Pareek, Tanishka , Pankaj Sen. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.