Vermiwash-derived enzyme-activated ZnO nanomaterial towards two cascading applications: enhanced photocatalysis and effective irrigation.

This study focuses on the preparation of enzyme-activated zinc oxide nanomaterial using vermiwash via a simple soft chemical method. This vermiwash––an aqueous extract obtained from vermin reactor––is produced using earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae, cow dung and leaf litter. The prepared nanoproduct was used to decompose toxic dye molecules through photocatalysis. The enzymes present in the vermiwash (like amylase, phosphatase, urease and protease) are found to be inherited by the prepared nanoproduct as well as the photocatalytically treated water. The quantitative study of enzymes shows that the quantity of enzymes present in the nanoproduct as well as in the photocatalytically treated water increases as the proportion of vermiwash used in the starting solution increases. This increase in the quantity of enzymes causes an increase in the photocatalytic efficiency of the nanoproduct. The photocatalytically treated water which consists of enzymes can be used as a potential candidate for effective irrigation. Thus, the vermiwash-activated ZnO nanopowder prepared in this study shows a two linear cascading applications. The results of the studies on enzymes, photocatalysis, XRD, SEM and FTIR are appropriately correlated with one another to address the enhancement in the photocatalytic activity of the prepared nanomaterials and the underlying mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]