In Situ Synthesis of Cu₂O Nanoparticles Using Eucalyptus globulus Extract to Remove a Dye via Advanced Oxidation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Water pollution from organic dyes is a significant environmental concern.
• Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are explored for effective contaminant degradation.
• Developing sustainable and reusable catalysts is crucial for water treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize copper(I) oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles on cellulose-based fabric using Eucalyptus globulus leaf extract.
• To evaluate the catalytic efficiency of the synthesized Cu2O fabric for methylene blue degradation via photocatalysis and heterogeneous Fenton-like reactions.
• To investigate the mechanistic aspects and reusability of the developed catalyst for water purification.

Main Methods:

• Green synthesis of Cu2O nanoparticles on cellulose fabric using plant extracts.
• Characterization of Cu2O nanoparticles using SEM-EDS, XRD, Raman, FTIR, UV-Vis DRS, and TGA.
• Evaluation of methylene blue degradation under visible light (photocatalysis) and with H2O2 (Fenton-like reactions) at varying pH.
• Assessment of catalyst reusability in both catalytic processes.

Main Results:

• Cu2O nanoparticles were successfully synthesized on cellulose fabric, confirmed by various characterization techniques.
• The catalyst effectively degraded methylene blue via photocatalysis (optimal at neutral pH) and Fenton-like reactions (optimal at acidic pH).
• Photocatalysis demonstrated better reusability compared to Fenton-like reactions, indicating catalyst stability.

Conclusions:

• Eucalyptus globulus leaf extract facilitates the green synthesis of Cu2O nanoparticles on fabric for water treatment.
• The developed Cu2O-based fabric shows significant potential as a reusable catalyst for degrading organic dyes through AOPs.
• This research contributes to sustainable environmental solutions for water purification and resource conservation.