Antifungal activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesised by a novel green method using waste biomass residue of Eucalyptus tereticornis

Gaurav Pandey; Vinay Kumar Varshney; Radhika Khanna; Rajeev Gupta; Gaurav Pandey; Vinay Kumar Varshney; Radhika Khanna; Rajeev Gupta

doi:10.3934/ctr.2026010

Clean Technologies and Recycling

2026, Volume 6, Issue 2: 234-251. doi: 10.3934/ctr.2026010

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Research article

Antifungal activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesised by a novel green method using waste biomass residue of Eucalyptus tereticornis

1.
Chemistry and Bioprospecting Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun 248006, India
2.
Department of Physics, School of Advanced Engineering Studies, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun 248007, India

Received: 02 March 2025 Revised: 11 January 2026 Accepted: 10 March 2026 Published: 13 August 2026

In this study, we introduce an eco-friendly approach to synthesizing zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Eucalyptus tereticornis knot wood waste, an abundant yet underutilized biomass residue from plantations and wood industries. E. tereticornis, valued in traditional medicine for its bioactive compounds, acts as a natural chelating and reducing agent under ambient conditions. The extraction process yielded 7.50% E. tereticornis extract with a total phenolic content of 530.20 mg GAE/g, leading to a 27.52% yield of ZnO NPs. Physicochemical characterization confirmed the formation of highly crystalline ZnO NPs with a wurtzite structure (~29 nm), as validated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed a characteristic absorption peak at 369 nm, closely matching bulk ZnO (~377 nm). Further structural and compositional analysis through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) confirmed their purity, morphology, and functional group interactions. The ZnO NPs exhibited predominantly spherical structures ranging from 20–40 nm, in close agreement with XRD results. Moreover, antifungal studies have demonstrated the significant bioactivity of ZnO NPs against common wood-decaying fungi, Laetiporus sulphurous (brown rot) and Pycnoporus sanguineus (white rot). Mycelial growth inhibition at different ZnO NP concentrations (10, 30, and 50 ppm) was recorded at 47.14%, 72.86%, and 98.57% for L. sulphurous, and 41.54%, 75.38%, and 98.46% for P. sanguineus, respectively. This study highlights the potential of Eucalyptus tereticornis knot wood waste as a sustainable resource for ZnO NP synthesis, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative for wood protection against fungal decay.
- nanoparticles,
- bio synthesis,
- zinc oxide,
- industrial waste,
- Eucalyptus tereticornis,
- knot wood extract
Citation: Gaurav Pandey, Vinay Kumar Varshney, Radhika Khanna, Rajeev Gupta. Antifungal activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesised by a novel green method using waste biomass residue of Eucalyptus tereticornis[J]. Clean Technologies and Recycling, 2026, 6(2): 234-251. doi: 10.3934/ctr.2026010

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Abstract

In this study, we introduce an eco-friendly approach to synthesizing zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Eucalyptus tereticornis knot wood waste, an abundant yet underutilized biomass residue from plantations and wood industries. E. tereticornis, valued in traditional medicine for its bioactive compounds, acts as a natural chelating and reducing agent under ambient conditions. The extraction process yielded 7.50% E. tereticornis extract with a total phenolic content of 530.20 mg GAE/g, leading to a 27.52% yield of ZnO NPs. Physicochemical characterization confirmed the formation of highly crystalline ZnO NPs with a wurtzite structure (~29 nm), as validated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed a characteristic absorption peak at 369 nm, closely matching bulk ZnO (~377 nm). Further structural and compositional analysis through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) confirmed their purity, morphology, and functional group interactions. The ZnO NPs exhibited predominantly spherical structures ranging from 20–40 nm, in close agreement with XRD results. Moreover, antifungal studies have demonstrated the significant bioactivity of ZnO NPs against common wood-decaying fungi, Laetiporus sulphurous (brown rot) and Pycnoporus sanguineus (white rot). Mycelial growth inhibition at different ZnO NP concentrations (10, 30, and 50 ppm) was recorded at 47.14%, 72.86%, and 98.57% for L. sulphurous, and 41.54%, 75.38%, and 98.46% for P. sanguineus, respectively. This study highlights the potential of Eucalyptus tereticornis knot wood waste as a sustainable resource for ZnO NP synthesis, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative for wood protection against fungal decay.

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