Solar light-driven heterogeneous photocatalytic removal of 2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid from aqueous solution by bio-fabricated SnO₂ nanostructure

The current research work highlighted the bio-fabrication of tin oxide nanoparticles (SnO₂ NPs) by employing Phyllanthus emblica leaf extract. These investigations concentrated on the physiochemical characteristics of the developed material and examined their effectiveness as photocatalysts and antibacterial agents. The structural characteristics of the bio-fabricated SnO₂NPs were investigated by XRD, SEM, FTIR, and UV spectroscopic techniques. Photocatalytic efficacy of the constructed materials was evaluated in the removal of the 2,4 dicholorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4 D); meanwhile, the antibacterial potency of the developed material was assessed against the chosen bacterial strain Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes. The XRD and SEM examination revealed that the particles are spherical with diameters ranging from 50 to 60 nm. Subsequently, the developed SnO₂ NPs demonstrated significant photocatalytic potency in the removal of the 2,4 D from the aqueous solution, and approximately 74% of organic pollutants were removed from the aqueous solution within the period of 120 min. The antibacterial assay demonstrated that the developed material shows significant inhibition of the tested bacterial strain. Maximum inhibition was observed against the Klebsiella pneumoniae with the 21 mm zone of inhibition at 60 µg/mL.