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. 2022 Nov 9;7(46):42073-42082.
doi: 10.1021/acsomega.2c04226. eCollection 2022 Nov 22.

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Core-Shell ZnO@SiO2 Nanoparticles and Application in Antibiotic and Bacteria Removal

Tien-Duc Pham  1 , Thi-Thuy-Trang Truong  1 , Ha-Linh Nguyen  2 , Ly-Bao-Long Hoang  2 , Viet-Phuong Bui  1 , Thi-Tra-My Tran  1 , Thi-Diu Dinh  3 , Thi-Dung Le  1
Affiliations

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Core-Shell ZnO@SiO2 Nanoparticles and Application in Antibiotic and Bacteria Removal

Tien-Duc Pham et al. ACS Omega. .

Abstract

A novel core-shell nanomaterial, ZnO@SiO2, based on rice husk for antibiotic and bacteria removal, was successfully fabricated. The ZnO@SiO2 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, diffuse reflectance ultraviolet-vis (DR-UV-vis) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and ζ-potential measurements. β-Lactam antibiotic amoxicillin (AMX) was removed using ZnO@SiO2 nanoparticles with an efficiency greater than 90%, while Escherichia coli removal was higher than 91%. The optimum effective conditions for AMX removal using ZnO@SiO2, including solution pH, adsorption time, and ZnO@SiO2 dosage, were 8, 90 min, and 25 mg/mL, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity reached 52.1 mg/g, much higher than those for other adsorbents. Adsorption isotherms of AMX on ZnO@SiO2 were more in accordance with the Freundlich model than the Langmuir model. The electrostatic attraction between negative species of AMX and the positively charged ZnO@SiO2 surface induced adsorption, while the removal of E. coli was governed by both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Our study demonstrates that ZnO@SiO2 based on rice husk is a useful core-shell nanomaterial for antibiotic and bacteria removal from water.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Photos of synthesized ZnO@SiO2 based on rice husk before calcination (A) and after calcination (B). (Photograph courtesy of Tien-Duc Pham. Copyright 2022).
Figure 2
Figure 2
XRD pattern (A) and the EDX spectrum (B) of synthesized ZnO@SiO2.
Figure 3
Figure 3
FTIR spectra (A), TEM image (B), and photoluminescence spectra (C) of the synthesized ZnO@SiO2 material.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Adsorption–desorption of N2 on ZnO@SiO2 nanoparticles (A). The X-ray photoelectron spectra of ZnO@SiO2 nanoparticles (B). The ζ-potential of ZnO@SiO2 nanoparticles as a function of pH at 1 mM KCl (C).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effect of pH (A), contact time (B), and adsorbent dosage (C) on AMX adsorption (removal) using ZnO@SiO2 (Ci, AMX 10 mg/L). Error bars show the measurement range of two replicates.
Figure 6
Figure 6
DR-UV–vis spectra of TiO2 and ZnO@SiO2 before and after AMX adsorption.
Figure 7
Figure 7
ζ-potential of ZnO@SiO2 nanoparticles before and after AMX adsorption at 1 mM KCl (pH 7.0).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Reuse potential of ZnO@SiO2 nanoparticles after three regeneration.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Test results of antibacterial activities for E. coli. The effect of the dosage (A) using ZnO@SiO2 nanoparticles. The comparative antibacterial activities using ZnO and ZnO@SiO2 (B). (Photograph courtesy of Thi-Thuy-Trang Truong. Copyright 2022).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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