Novel green in situ synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles on cotton using pomegranate peel extract

Verbič, Anja (author), Šala, Martin (author), Jerman, Ivan (author), Gorjanc, Marija (author)

This work presents the novel and entirely green in situ synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) on cotton fabric. Pomegranate peel extract was used as a reducing agent and wood ash extract was used as an alkali source for the formation of ZnO-NP from zinc acetate. Four different synthesis methods, which varied in drying between immersion of fabric in the active solutions for synthesis and the use of padding and ultrasonication, were investigated to evaluate the most suitable one to achieve excellent ultraviolet (UV) protective properties of the functionalized textile. For comparison, the cotton fabrics were also functionalized with each active solution separately or in a combination of two (i.e., Zn-acetate and plant extract). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) analysis, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirm the successful formation of ZnO-NP on cotton. Among the synthesis methods, the method that included continuous drying of the samples between immersion in the active solutions for synthesis (Method 4) was found to be the most suitable to deliver uniformly impregnated cotton fibers with numerous small ZnO wurtzite structured crystals and excellent UV protection, with a UV protection factor of 154.0. This research presents an example of a green circular economy where a bio-waste material can be used to produce ZnO-NP directly on cotton at low temperatures and short treatment times without the addition of chemicals and enables the production of cellulosic fabrics with excellent UV protection.

• Language: English
• Keywords: food waste, pomegranate, zinc oxide nanoparticles, in situ synthesis, phytosynthesis, cotton
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: NTF - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 22 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 14, iss. 16, art. 4472
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-135946
• UDC: 677
• ISSN on article: 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma14164472
• COBISS.SI-ID: 73326851
• Publication date in RUL: 04.04.2022

VERBIČ, Anja, ŠALA, Martin, JERMAN, Ivan and GORJANC, Marija, 2021, Novel green in situ synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles on cotton using pomegranate peel extract. Materials [online]. 2021. Vol. 14, no. 16,  4472. [Accessed 1 April 2025]. DOI 10.3390/ma14164472. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=135946

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Materials
• Shortened title: Materials
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1996-1944
• COBISS.SI-ID: 33588485

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 10.08.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: živilski odpadki, granatno jabolko, cinkov oksid, nanodelci, in situ sinteza, bombaž