The Department of Chemistry Discusses a Master’s Thesis on the Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Sulfide Nanoparticles and its Application in the Removal of Methylene blue Dye from its Aqueous Solutions

Discussion of a Master’s Thesis

The Department of Chemistry at the College of Education for Pure Sciences discussed the master’s thesis for the student (Amir Qassem Abd Jawad) under the supervision of (Prof. Ola Mahdi Abd Ali) and the second supervisor (Prof. Hassan Faisal Nehme) from the College of Science / University of Karbala about His treatise entitled Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Sulfide Nanoparticles and its Application in Removal of Methylene blue Dye from its Aqueous Solutions. The aim of the study was:

1. This work mainly focused on the preparation and characterization of zinc sulfide nanocrystals using the chemical precipitation method.
2. Spherical zinc sulfide nanoparticles were synthesized by controlling the concentration of the starting materials, the reaction time, and the pH of the solution. Also, the energy gap of the visible and ultraviolet rays was measured and found to be (3.8 electron-volt), and this blue shift compared to the energy gap of large ZnS is attributed to the effect of quantum confinement. Also, the adsorption behavior of ZnS nanoparticles was studied and it was found that ZnS particles have the ability to Adsorption of methylene blue (MB) dye from an aqueous solution.
3. Zinc sulfide nanoparticles were also prepared using green methods. Whereas, parts of the broccoli plant are used as reducing and isolating agents instead of using chemicals.

* The most important conclusions:
1. ZnS nanoparticles were successfully prepared using the chemical precipitation method.
2. The size of zinc sulfide nanoparticles was measured using the Debye-Scherrer equation and its size was 1.5 nm.
3. The introduction of broccoli extract into the formation of ZnS nanoparticles leads to the formation of small nanoparticles with a wide bandgap eV 3.93 compared to the ZnS particles formed through the chemical precipitation method eV 3.8.
After extensive scientific discussion and listening to the student’s defense of his message, his method of research, and his use of sources and references, the thesis was approved with honors. Congratulations to the student, his supervisors, the Department of Chemistry, and the College of Education for Pure Sciences for this great achievement, and God Almighty grants success.