Photocatalytic Removal of Anthracene using Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized by Fusarium proliferatum WC416

Release of complex waste in environment due to massive industrialization is a major threat globally. Anthracene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon generally released as a waste from petrochemical industries. It may bioaccumulate in food chain which results into nephrotoxicity in humans. Thus, there is a necessity to clean up the contaminated site efficiently. Bioremediation is ecofriendly technique for waste reclamation however it consumes more time. Thus, nanotechnology has exploded with unique properties of nanomaterials. Bio-based nanoparticles (NPs) synthesis is a recent and agro ecologically friendly approach for remediating environmental waste. For the first time present study reports Fusarium proliferatum WC416 isolated from refinery effluent for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Moreover, biosynthesized ZnO NPs used for their photocatalytic efficiency to remove anthracene at varying concentration. During synthesis of ZnO in aqueous medium showed a characteristic peak at 365 nm as analyzed by Ultraviolet-visible spectrum. The formation of NPs was further confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray (XRD). Morphologically the synthesized ZnO NPs were found to be in irregular polygonal shapes. Moreover, ZnO NPs showed photocatalytic activity for removal of anthracene upto 65 +/- 0.03%, p value = 0.00032 at 100 ppm followed by 50.7% +/- 0.02%, p value = 0.00023 at 250 ppm and 40.83 +/- 0.03%, p value = 0.00042 at 500 ppm within 6 hr duration. Anthracene transformation during photocatlytic activity was confirmed by GC MS analysis, and the products were detected as 1,2 benzene carboxylic acid (m/z 166) and salicylic acid (m/z 138). Phytotoxicity effect of synthesized ZnO NPs on seed germination index of Phaseolus moonga and Vigina radiata was also studied to promote sustainable and biocompatible nano-agriculture.