Mimosa pudica PLANT EXTRACT-MEDIATED GREEN SYNTHESIZED CERIUM DIOXIDE NANOCATALYST FOR SONOLYTIC DEGRADATION OF METHYL ORANGE FROM WASTEWATER

In this present study, cerium oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using Mimosa pudica leaf extract and characterized. The UV-visible absorption spectrum of Mimosa pudica plant extract mediated cerium oxide nanoparticles showed a sharp peak at 315 nm with the band gap energy of 2.7 eV, which indicates the formation of Cerium oxide. Surface morphology of cerium oxide nanoparticles was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, which showed the presence of spherical particles with agglomeration. The crystalline structure of nanoparticles was determined by Xray diffraction analysis, indicating a cubic crystal phase with a particle size of 12.3 nm, and it was confirmed in the particle size determined by the dynamic light scattering method. Sonocatalytic efficiency of cerium oxide nanoparticles was also tested for the degradation of methyl orange dye. The experimental observations reveal that maximum degradation of methyl orange dye was obtained at pH 3.0 in the presence of 0.1 mg of catalyst cerium oxide nanoparticles by exposing to ultrasonic waves for 120 min. The efficiency of degradation of the dye in the presence of cerium oxide nanocatalyst was found to be six times greater than in the absence of a catalyst.