Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Two Saffron Flower Extracts and Their Comparative Photocatalytic Efficiency in Organic     Dye Degradation

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are widely explored for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants due to their high stability, low cost, and environmental compatibility. In this study, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized through two green routes using saffron (Crocus sativus) floral extracts, aiming to evaluate the effect of extract type and synthesis method on structural properties and photocatalytic activity. Both saffron anther extract (Z2) and saffron petal extract (Z4) were utilized in the same Co-Precipitation method to produce green zinc oxide nanoparticles Z2 and Z4. Both approaches avoided toxic reagents, promoting sustainable nanomaterial fabrication. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), confirming crystalline ZnO with high purity and nanoscale morphology. Photocatalytic activities were tested under direct natural sunlight using methylene blue (MB), rhodamine B (RhB), and crystal violet (CV) as model dyes. The results revealed that the synthesis route and type of extract significantly influenced degradation performance, with each sample showing dye-dependent activity. These findings demonstrate the potential of saffron-extract-mediated green synthesis to produce efficient ZnO photocatalysts for environmental remediation.