PRODUCTION OF EMULSION PAINT USING WASTE POLYSTYRENE, WASTE PAPER AND ZINC OXIDE NANO PARTICLES

ABSTRACT This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing waste polymer, waste paper and zinc oxide nanoparticles in the production of emulsion paint, contributing to sustainable solutions for waste management and eco-friendly material development. In this work, waste polymer (polystyrene) was used as a binder, functionalized cellulose from newspaper acts as the thickener whereas ZnO-NPs was synthesized and used as a preservative. During the synthesis of ZnO-NPs, biosynthetic method was used employing Curcuma longa, also known as turmeric, as the bio-reductant. The green synthesis method was chosen due to its affordability and utilization of fewer toxic chemicals compared to orthodox nanotechnology methods. Various analytical techniques such as Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscope, Ultraviolet-visible Absorption Spectroscopy, and Transmission Electron Microscopy were employed for characterization of the synthesized nanoparticles. From the UV-Visible results, absorption peak was observed at wavelength of 339nm, Energy Dispersive X-ray results shows the presence of three elements, Zinc Oxide (82.76), Oxygen (15.24) and Carbon (2.00). Transmission electron microscopes micrographs reveal a spherical shape and Scanning electron microscopy picture reveal a plate like structure of the prepared Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle. The paint was compounded using the obtained binder form waste polystyrene, thickener from waste paper and the preservative from synthesized ZnO NPs. From our investigation, it shows that most of the imported paint raw materials can be replaced with available local materials which is sustainable and also a circular economic process.