6 Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles
Zinc oxide is one of the Food and Drug Administration-approved nanomaterial, and
it is used as many ways in food additives [45]. Although, zinc oxide is a source of
zinc which serves as an essential micronutrient in day-to-day life and behaves as a
significant role in the growth and development of children and adult health. Zinc
oxide nanoparticles are non-toxic and good biocompatibility to human cells but it is
harmful to microorganisms due to its excellent antibacterial activity. The zinc oxide
nanoparticles have excellent antimicrobial activities compared to bulk zinc oxide;
the nanozinc oxide particles easily interact with the surface of the bacteria or core of
the bacteria where it passes through the cell and then establishes the numerous
bactericidal mechanisms. Due to these advantages, zinc oxide nanoparticles have
been widely investigated and used in various fields, namely, wound dressings,
cosmetics, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and food packaging. In recent years,
zinc oxide nanoparticles have been used mainly for waste water treatment. The
nanostructure zinc oxide loaded activated carbon-coated cloth is applied for the
removal of copper from the waste water treatment [46]. The zinc oxide-incorporated
poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibrous membrane removes the uranium with copper and
nickel from the contaminated water [47]. The synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles
which incorporated activated carbon nanocomposites has excellent hydrophilic
properties [43]. In addition, it has excellent adsorption capacity at 92 mg/g within
a short period of time (45 min) and may be used for the removal of lead ions from
wastewater treatment. The zinc oxide-loaded montmorillonite clay nanocomposite
has been developed for the removal of lead and copper from the aqueous solution. Its
adsorption capacity is observed at 99.22 mg/g within 90 min [48]. Zinc oxide has
exhibit excellent mechanical properties, good chemical stability, and heat resistance
which have been proven to be a promising material for antibacterial agent. Increasing the weight percentage of zinc oxide nanoparticles in cellulose composite is
greater than the antibacterial activity. The core shell of the electrospun zinc oxidenylon 6,6 nanofibrous membrane has been used as a water treatment for the removal
of organic pollutants due to their good photocatalytic properties, structural flexibility, and stability [49]. The incorporation of inorganic nanofillers like zinc oxide can
enhance the polymer membrane properties. The inorganic fillers are added directly to
the polymeric solution and electrospun to produce the single hybrid structure which
enhances the characteristic properties and strength of the electrospun nanofibrous
membrane [50].
Zinc oxide nanoparticles can be synthesized by many methods to control the
synthesis parameters. Depending upon the application, various types of protocols are
used, and the properties can be tailored by the shape and size of the zinc oxide. The
significant parameters like chemical and physical parameters, namely, the solvent
type, precursors, pH, and the temperature, are highly considered. A variety of zinc
oxide morphologies such as nanorods, nanosphere, nanotubes, nanowires,
nanoneedles, and nanorings have been successfully synthesized and used in many
commercial applications. Each zinc oxide nanostructure has specific structural,
Biopolymer-Based Nanofibrous Membrane for Water Purification Treatment
233
Zinc oxide is one of the Food and Drug Administration-approved nanomaterial, and
it is used as many ways in food additives [45]. Although, zinc oxide is a source of
zinc which serves as an essential micronutrient in day-to-day life and behaves as a
significant role in the growth and development of children and adult health. Zinc
oxide nanoparticles are non-toxic and good biocompatibility to human cells but it is
harmful to microorganisms due to its excellent antibacterial activity. The zinc oxide
nanoparticles have excellent antimicrobial activities compared to bulk zinc oxide;
the nanozinc oxide particles easily interact with the surface of the bacteria or core of
the bacteria where it passes through the cell and then establishes the numerous
bactericidal mechanisms. Due to these advantages, zinc oxide nanoparticles have
been widely investigated and used in various fields, namely, wound dressings,
cosmetics, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and food packaging. In recent years,
zinc oxide nanoparticles have been used mainly for waste water treatment. The
nanostructure zinc oxide loaded activated carbon-coated cloth is applied for the
removal of copper from the waste water treatment [46]. The zinc oxide-incorporated
poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibrous membrane removes the uranium with copper and
nickel from the contaminated water [47]. The synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles
which incorporated activated carbon nanocomposites has excellent hydrophilic
properties [43]. In addition, it has excellent adsorption capacity at 92 mg/g within
a short period of time (45 min) and may be used for the removal of lead ions from
wastewater treatment. The zinc oxide-loaded montmorillonite clay nanocomposite
has been developed for the removal of lead and copper from the aqueous solution. Its
adsorption capacity is observed at 99.22 mg/g within 90 min [48]. Zinc oxide has
exhibit excellent mechanical properties, good chemical stability, and heat resistance
which have been proven to be a promising material for antibacterial agent. Increasing the weight percentage of zinc oxide nanoparticles in cellulose composite is
greater than the antibacterial activity. The core shell of the electrospun zinc oxidenylon 6,6 nanofibrous membrane has been used as a water treatment for the removal
of organic pollutants due to their good photocatalytic properties, structural flexibility, and stability [49]. The incorporation of inorganic nanofillers like zinc oxide can
enhance the polymer membrane properties. The inorganic fillers are added directly to
the polymeric solution and electrospun to produce the single hybrid structure which
enhances the characteristic properties and strength of the electrospun nanofibrous
membrane [50].
Zinc oxide nanoparticles can be synthesized by many methods to control the
synthesis parameters. Depending upon the application, various types of protocols are
used, and the properties can be tailored by the shape and size of the zinc oxide. The
significant parameters like chemical and physical parameters, namely, the solvent
type, precursors, pH, and the temperature, are highly considered. A variety of zinc
oxide morphologies such as nanorods, nanosphere, nanotubes, nanowires,
nanoneedles, and nanorings have been successfully synthesized and used in many
commercial applications. Each zinc oxide nanostructure has specific structural,
Biopolymer-Based Nanofibrous Membrane for Water Purification Treatment
233