Synthesis of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Using Punica granatum Extract for the Removal of Cationic and Anionic Dyes from Wastewater

Clean water is the basic need of every living organism. The field of nanotechnology is one of the utmost wide spread areas for current research and development for the management of discarded water. Zinc oxide, iron oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using Punica granatum leave, and pulp extract. These prepared nanoparticles were applied for the removal of anionic toxic dyes from wastewater using batch experiment. Different parameters like pH, dose, initial dye concentration, contact time and temperature were optimized to check the highest removal of selected dye. The effect of presence of electrolytes was also studied. Kinetic models like pseudo-1st-order, pseudo-2^nd-order and intraparticle diffusion model were applied to check the rate and order of reaction. Equilibrium models like Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin and Harkins–Jura were applied to check the nature of adsorption of dye on prepared nanoparticles. Thermodynamics models were also applied to check the enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy of the reaction. Desorption study was conducted to check the reusability of the nanoparticles.