<![CDATA[This research employed a green synthesis approach to produce zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, using Aloe vera latex extract as both the natural reducing and stabilizing agent. To improve particle dispersion and suppress agglomeration, Xanthan gum was employed as a biopolymeric modifier. The ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized under ambient conditions without the need for surfactants or hazardous chemicals. Characterization through FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy demonstrated that the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were highly crystalline and adopted a hexagonal wurtzite structure. The incorporation of xanthan gum significantly reduced the crystallite size, enhanced surface homogeneity, and increased the optical band gap energy from 3.19 eV to 3.39 eV. Photocatalytic activity was evaluated using Remazol Yellow (anionic dye) and Rhodamine B (cationic dye) under UV light irradiation. The ZnO-AL/XG nanocomposite exhibited superior photocatalytic performance compared to ZnO synthesized without xanthan gum. This enhanced activity was attributed to improved nanoparticle dispersion, reduced recombination rates of photogenerated charge carriers, and better surface interaction with dye molecules. From the recycling study of ZnO-AL/Xg and ZnO-AL, it has been observed that the photocatalyst is still able to remove the color of the RY and RB solution up to 3 times of use with results above 50% of photodegradation percentage. The findings highlight the potential of Aloe vera–xanthan gum–based synthesis as a sustainable and efficient strategy for producing ZnO nanomaterials applicable in wastewater treatment.]]>
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