Artículos de Revista en Ingeniería · 2025
Antimicrobial and Photocatalytic Potential of a Composite of ZnO-ZnS and Activated Carbon Obtained From Banana Peel
Banana peel was mixed with zinc sulfate and pyrolyzed at 500 °C under nitrogen to synthe- size a composite with potential antibacterial activ- ity against both Gram-positive Escherichia coli and Gram-negative Staphylococcus aureus. The material was characterized by TGA, nitrogen adsorption-des- orption isotherm, SEM-EDX, DRX, DRS UV-Vis, and DLS. XRD analysis showed the presence of ZnO and ZnS in the composite, and TGA analysis revealed the presence of lignocellulosic material in the solid due to decomposition peaks characteristic of hemi- cellulose, cellulose, and lignin. Nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherm analysis revealed a surface area of 165.0 m2/g, an average pore diameter of 16.0 nm, and a total pore volume of 0.16 cm3/g. C, O, Zn, and Si were determined as the most significant ele- ments present in the material. DLS showed a distri- bution with a single type of particle. UV-Vis analy- sis revealed an Eg value of 2.0 eV for the composite, indicating potential antibacterial properties and suit- ability for biomedical applications. The use of the material in removing sildenafil, an emerging contam- inant present in various environmental matrices, was evaluated, considering the effects of parameters such as the solution pH, the catalyst dosage, and the reuse of the composite over five cycles. The composite obtained from agro-industrial waste is a promising material to remove organic contaminants from water