Synthesis, Characterisation and Catalytic Behaviour of NiO Nanoflowers for the Photo Degradation of Norflaxacin in Aqueous Medium

: NiO nanoparticles stabilized with starch was synthesized and characterized using UV-Vis, FT-IR, FESEM and XRD techniques. From FESEM analysis the morphology of the prepared NiO nanoparticles was found to be flower shaped. XRD analysis showed that the NiO nanoparticles corresponds to phase pure cubic crystals and from scherer formula the particle size was calculated to be 9±0.5 nm. Using optical absorption spectra, tha band gap energy was obtained. Photocatalytic activity of the synthesized nanoparticles was investigated by carrying out the degradation studies of norfloxacin under UV light irradiation. In the present work, we have synthesized NiO nanoparticles with biostabilizer starch and used for the photocatalytic degradation of the antibiotic NF. The as prepared NiO nanoparticles are characterized using FESEM, UV-Vis, FT-IR and XRD measurements. Progress of the photo degradation of NF in the presence of NiO nanoparticles was monitored by using time dependant UV-Vis spectra. The reaction followed pseudo first order kinetics. Rate coefficient values at different pH and the optimum pH for degradation of NF was determined.