CuO Nanoparticles from Allium Cepa Extract: Green Synthesis and Applications
Abstract
Industries use dyes in order to colour their products. The discharge of dye bearing wastewater into natural streams, rivers from textile, leather industries make severe environmental problem of the present day. The Heterogeneous photocatalytic process is a high efficiency technique, which is used to oxidize the organic pollutants present in aqueous system. This report aimed to elucidate the Photocatalytic degradation of Malachite green dye in aqueous medium in presence of UV light irradiation using Allium cepa mediated (CuO) Nanoparticle prepared by Bio-method. The as-synthesized copper Nanoparticle was characterized with various techniques UV, FT-IR, XRD, SEM and DLS which reveals many possible interactions of Dye-Nanoparticle system. The maximum photo degradation was obtained at 120min of irradiation time due to their higher surface sites and surface defects. Although the photostablity of Nano copper material (CuO) was also assessed for 4 cycles which ascertained the potential photo catalytic activity and it also proves excellent microbial activity against E-coli and Bacillus. Thus, the Allium cepa mediated Nano copper could play a vital role in environmental remediation of polluted water.
Introduction
The startling technological development has increased the large-scale industrial production of much of the daily-used products with a broad range of applications (Hamza et al., 2018; Meaty et al., 2020; Amr Fouda et al., 2020). Among these products, dyes are crucial in the textile and fashion industries. However, with intensive applications, dyes transform into dangerous pollutants when they are improperly handled and disposed of causing serious environmental and public health hazards (Yoga Lakshmi et al., 2020; Amr Fouda et al., 2020). The increased usage of nanoparticles especially for medical purposes created a new challenge of synthesizing them by untraditional methods to overcome the undeniable disadvantages of other physical and chemical methods (Murali Sastry et al., 2003; Amr Fouda et al., 2020). Plant mediated nanoparticles synthesis (green method) is preferred as it is clean, cost effective, nontoxic and safe for human therapeutic use (Renata Dobrucka and Jolanta Długaszewska, 2015). Onion (Allium cepa) is a widely cultivated plant all over the world. It is rich in carbohydrates, proteins, sodium, potassium and phosphorus. It has been reported to have numerous important properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory activities (Johanna, 1999; Eman, 2017; Philip and Unni, 2011). Recently, it is found that onion can be used as a potential candidate for synthesis of CuO nanoparticles. CuO nanoparticles as a narrow band gap semiconductor was investigated extensively due to its promising applications towards sensors, superconductors, solar cells, catalysis, lithium-ion battery and super capacitors, (Zhang et al.,2014). In addition, US Environmental protection agency recognized copper based materials as antimicrobial materials (Dollwet and Sorenson, 2001). The use of CuO nanomaterial in prevention of bacterial infection in medical devices and enhancement of antimicrobial activity towards pathogenic microorganisms in nano form displays is also recorded.
CuO nanomaterials were applied in fabrics, agriculture, paints and also in hospitals due to its desirable properties (Amr Fouda et al., 2020; Kumar et al., 2012). Due to its low cost and toxicity, good chemical and thermal stability with high surface area, CuO based nanomaterials have received considerable attention. In particular, semiconductor nanostructured-based photo catalysis displayed high potential for degradation of various organic pollutants including dyes, surfactants, solvents, pesticides, phenolic compounds, etc. into harmless products under light irradiation. Among nanostructured oxides, copper (II) oxide (CuO) is classified as a semiconductor material type-p with a narrow band gap energy of 1.2 eV and possessing excellent optical, electrical, magnetic, catalytic, and biological properties. In this study, we report the synthesis of CuO nanoparticle by green syn- thesis process using Allium cepa extract as reducing agent. The final products characteristics were studied — SEM, XRD, UV, DLS and FTRI analysis. Along with these characteristics Photocatalytic degradation the antibacterial ability against E. coli and S. Bacillus was examined and reported.
Source : CuO Nanoparticles from Allium Cepa Extract: Green Synthesis and Applications | InformativeBD
