The new reaction between zinc(II) chloride and glutaconic acid (C5H6O4) was studied. The results indicate the formation of zinc(II) glutaconate complex with a molar ratio of metal to organic ligand (glutaconic acid) of 2:1 with the general formula [Zn2(C5H4O4)(Cl)2(H2O)2].4H2O. The infrared spectrum of the glutaconate suggested that the two carboxylate groups are bidentate chelating. The current study uses a thermal breakdown approach to synthesize zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs). The synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR). The crystallite size was calculated using Scherer's formula, which was 54 nm. The degradation of hydrogen peroxide, or H2O2, solution was used to test the produced ZnO NPs' catalytic activity performance. The results showed that ZnO NPs could efficiently break down H2O2. The ZnO NPs' photocatalytic capabilities have been assessed using methylene blue (MB) and UV light in an aqueous solution, according to the data, 77% of photocatalytic degradation towards MB in 240 min occurs.

KEY WORDS: ZnO NPs, Methylene blue dye, Photocatalytic, Metal-glutaconate complexation.

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2025, 39(2), 257-270.                                                              

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v39i2.6