GREEN SYNTHESIS OF ZnO NANOPARTICLES FROM LEAF EXTRACT OF Terminalia catappa AND ITS APPLICATION AS PHOTOCATALYST

ZnO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using a green synthesis method with ketapang leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The objectives of this study were to synthesize ZnO nanoparticles using ketapang leaf extract, characterize the ZnO nanoparticles, and evaluate their photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue. The ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using the sol-gel method. Characterization was conducted using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) to identify functional groups and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) to determine phase and crystal size. FT-IR characterization revealed the presence of Zn-O at a wavelength of 450 cm¹ and -OH groups at 3406 cm¹. XRD characterization indicated a ZnO crystal size of 17.5 nm. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles from ketapang leaf extract showed that an optimal ZnO nanoparticle mass of 30 mg achieved a degradation rate of 81.92% for methylene blue. The optimal contact time was 80 minutes, resulting in a degradation of 81.56%. The optimal methylene blue concentration was 5 ppm, with a degradation rate of 87.91%.