Activity of ZnO microstructures synthesized using microwave plasma in dinitrophenol photodegradation processes

The activity of nitrogen-containing structures of ZnO synthesized using atmospheric-pressure microwave nitrogen plasma in the processes of photodegradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol under the exposure to sunlight was studied. It was shown that, during the plasma treatment of zinc microparticles, ZnO structures of various micromorphologies ranging in size from hundreds of nanometers to several micrometers are being formed. High photoactivity (rate constant of 0.036 min$^{-1}$) of synthesized ZnO structures during photodegradation of dinitrophenol under solar radiation was demonstrated. Photoactive ZnO structures synthesized using microwave nitrogen plasma can find application in the processes of mineralization of toxic organic compounds.