Green Chemistry and Technology

Biography

Dr Noluthando Mayedwa completed her PhD in Chemical Science in 2016 at the University of the Western Cape. Currently appointed as a post-doctoral fellow at iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Science in collaboration with the University of South Africa under the UNESCO/UNISA chair. Her speciality is nanotechnology, electrochemistry, green synthesis, optics, analytical chemistry and energy applications.  She is also working on microbial research for application in water treatment.

Abstract

The nanostructures of zinc chromite (ZnCrO₄) were synthesized through using Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis natural extracts as an effective bio-reductive and chelating agent.  Zinc chromite (ZnCrO₄) is a mixed oxide which crystallizes in the cubic system and has a normal spinel structure.  The synthesized samples will be characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), High resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), diffused reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR). The nanoparticles will be investigated for photocatalysis application using methylene orange and methylene blue, further studies on microbial activity using different bacterial cultures. The electro activity of ZnCrO4 nanostructures was investigated on glassy carbon electrode, drop coated the binary nanoparticles were systematically studied in alkaline medium of potassium hydroxide (KOH) by cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).