Green synthesis of ZnxMg۱-xMnFeO۴ magnetic nanoparticles and their photocatalytic applications in water treatment

The green synthesis of nanomaterial employing plant extracts as an efficient, low-cost and environmental friendly technique could reduce destructive effects of the traditional methods commonly utilized in laboratory and industry [۱,۲]. Although, the phytochemicals varied from plant to plant, however, the phytochemical screening exhibited that most of them were enriched with the existence of alkaloid, steroids, phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponin, quinones, coumarins etc. [۱]. In plant-mediated biosynthesis of nanomaterials method, the chemical compounds and organic solvents are replaced with phytochemicals and aqueous matrixes, respectively, which has suggested that as a reliable, sustainable, and eco-friendly protocol. Catalysts have a main role in modern technology and science. Nanocatalysts have emerged as a fertile field for research and innovation. The nanotechnology could enhance catalytic performances and makes it possible to replace expensive catalysts with lower amounts of inexpensive nanocatalysts. Nanocatalysts have been widely used in environmental applications. They have shown promising catalytic performance in pollutant removal or toxicity mitigation. Magnetic nanoparticles belong to the group of nanotechnology-based material with economic viability, operational simplicity, easy and rapid recoverability and reusability has sparked an immense interest in catalytic research [۲,۳]. Among different types of nanocatalysts, magnetic nanocatalysts with very large magnetoresistance, high curie temperatures, large coercivities and low saturation magnetization, have widely employed for treatment of polluted water or subsurface environment. Numerous studies have been undertaken about the magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) because of their economic viability, easy and rapid separation, recoverability and reusability [۴]. This article reviews the our achievements about plant-mediated biosynthesis of magnetic nanomaterials and highlights the applications of biosynthesized nanoparticles as green nanocatalysts in various catalytic organic chemicals transformations and removal of organic dyes from waste water. Synthesized magnetic nanoparticles which displayed good photocatalytic performance for the degradation of organic pollutant under ambient conditions and at natural pH.