Sustainable removal of pigment dye from traditional batik textile wastewater using ZnO photocatalysis

• This study employed a one-step probe ultrasonication method to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles with exceptional photocatalytic properties. • Insights into particle morphology were provided by the duration (0 – 45 min) and wave amplitude (0 – 80 %) of ultrasonication, which have been detailed in the context of photocatalytic applications. • The ZnO particles produced exhibit exceptionally high photocatalytic activity, capable of degrading up to 98 % of industrial Batik waste in just 60 min. • The reusability of the ZnO particles demonstrated good stability over three cycles, maintaining consistent degradation performance. Wastewater management in the textile industry poses significant challenges, especially for small-scale facilities lacking proper treatment systems. As an alternative solution, in-situ wastewater treatment has gained prominence. Presently, solar-driven photocatalytic materials offer a promising avenue for effective wastewater remediation. This study employed a one-step probe ultrasonication method to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles with exceptional photocatalytic properties. Comprehensive optimization was undertaken to achieve ZnO particles with superior photocatalytic performance. The effects of various parameters, including wave amplitude (ranging from 0 to 80 %), ultrasonication time (from 0 to 45 min), and precursor zinc acetate concentration (between 0.1 to 0.3 M), were thoroughly investigated. By carefully controlling these conditions, non-agglomerated ZnO particles significantly improved photocatalytic activity, especially under visible-light conditions, when treating wastewater from the textile industry. The produce particle at 0.1 M in conjunction with maximum ultrasonication time and amplitude, provide more dispersed particle with smaller particle sizes. The photocatalytic process exhibited remarkable efficiency, with up to 98 % of the textile waste degraded within 60 min of reaction time using the ZnO particle produced under this condition. Moreover, this higher photocatalytic activity was supported by the rate of kinetic constant of 0.0365 min⁻¹, representing the pseudo-first-order kinetic. Furthermore, this research highlights the robust reusability of ZnO as a photocatalytic material, which remained stable even after three consecutive cycles. These findings affirm that ZnO particles synthesized through the probe ultrasonication method hold great potential for treating dye-containing textile effluents, providing a sustainable and effective solution for addressing this environmental concern.