Optimizing Synergies: Unraveling the Effect of ZnO Nanoparticle Calcination on in Vitro Antibacterial Potency and Photocatalytic Efficiency of Cephalexin A Study into Kinetics and Isotherms

This study reports the successful green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) utilizing an aqueous leaf extract of Olea europea L. The biogenic ZnO NPs were dreied at 100 °C and calcined at 450 °C. Their nanoscale dimensions were confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealing a size range of 40–60 nm, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirming a hexagonal structure for both calcination processes. The ZnO particle size increased from 18.79 nm at 100 °C to 25.04 nm at 450 °C. The successful eco-friendly synthesis of ZnO NPs was further validated by FT-IR spectroscopy, which identified functional groups on the particle surface. Importantly, the ZnO NPs demonstrated remarkable efficiency in degrading Cephalexin, achieving a degradation rate of 95