Sustainable fabrication, optical properties and rapid performance of bio-engineered copper nanoparticles in removal of toxic methylene blue dye in an aqueous medium

Abstract

Copper nanoparticles have obtained due to the green process in a one-pot reaction at ambient temperature using Malva Sylvesteris leaves extract. The plant extract has used as a reducing and capping agent, providing stability and avoiding oxidation of synthesized copper nanoparticles for more than eight months. Many techniques have exploited for the investigation of optical and physicochemical properties of copper nanoparticles. UV-VIS spectroscopy showed two bands at different locations for the extract and nanoparticles at 340 and 390 ​nm, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the role of bioactive materials in the plant extract as a reducing and capping agent. X-ray diffraction tool affirmed the crystalline nature of fabricated copper nanoparticles at average (20 ​nm) and showed a centred cubic structure. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) chart illustrated the roughly spherical shape of distributed copper nanoparticles. The copper nanoparticles showed high-efficiency removal of methylene blue dye in water samples.

Keywords

• Copper nanoparticles
• Malva sylvestris
• Methylene blue
• Removal