Enhancing MB dye degradation and apple shelf life with Mn-doped ZnO nanoparticles: experimental and COMSOL simulation

• Published in: European physical journal plus 2024-12, Vol.139 (12), p.1065, Article 1065
• Main Authors: Afzal, Maria, Ashfaq, Zain, Iqbal, Tahir, Afsheen, Sumera, Younas, Ayesha, Farooq, Muhammad, Yousaf, Muhammad, Almeer, Rafa, Warad, Ismail
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied and Technical Physics; Ascorbic acid; Atomic; Biosynthesis; Catalytic activity; Complex Systems; Condensed Matter Physics; Dyes; E coli; Fungicides; Manganese; Mathematical and Computational Physics; Methylene blue; Moisture content; Molecular; Nanoparticles; Nitrates; Optical and Plasma Physics; Photocatalysis; Photodegradation; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Reducing agents; Regular Article; Shelf life; Spectrum analysis; Storage life; Theoretical; Weight loss measurement; Wurtzite; Zinc oxide; Zinc oxides
• ISSN: 2190-5444; 2190-5444
• DOI: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-024-05844-2

The present study reports the green synthesis of pure and Mn-doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with different dopant concentrations (1%, 3% and 5%) using Azadirachta indica (Neem) leaves extract as a stabilizing and reducing agent. The XRD pattern confirmed the formation of hexagonal crystal structures of wurtzite ZnO. The particle size for the optimal sample 5% Mn-ZnO is 19 nm. The successful biosynthesis of the Mn-doped ZnO nanoparticles was analyzed by several methods, e.g., EDX, FTIR, PL, UV–Vis spectroscopy and SEM. In order to test the photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles, methylene blue (MB) dye was utilized. It was discovered that adding manganese (Mn) to ZnO enhanced the photocatalytic efficiency, degrading methylene blue to 90%. After six cycles of regeneration, the reusability of Mn-doped ZnO (5%) is approaching 76%. Additionally, in order to determine the effects of pure and 5% Mn-ZnO nanoparticles on apple storage life, a series of studies measuring time-dependent weight loss, moisture content, ascorbic acid and decay process were conducted. The antimicrobial and antifungal properties of Mn-doped ZnO were shown against Staphylococcus aureus, Fusarium spp., Rosellinia necat rix and Escherichia coli. . The current study is distinctive in the sense that it uses the COMSOL Multiphysics module 5.3a to link the theoretical model and experimental results.