In this work, a green and cost-effective method for the preparation of ZnO nanoparticles via microwave assisted decomposition of zinc acetate precursor using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, [bmim][NTf2] as a solvent has been used. The morphology and structure of ZnO nanoparticles have been characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). ZnO nanofluids have been prepared by dispersing ZnO nanoparticles in glycerol as a base fluid in the presence of ammonium citrate as a dispersant. The antibacterial activity of ZnO nanofluids was tested against E. coli at different concentrations by colony count method. The quantitative examination of bacterial activity has been estimated by the survival ratio (N/N0) as calculated from the number of viable bacterial cells (N) at specified time and the initial viable cells (N0), which form colonies on the nutrient agar plates.

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