Photocatalytic degradation of atrazine and abamectin using <i>Chenopodium album</i> leaves extract mediated copper oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Abstract The study focusses on the ecofriendly synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using aqueous extract of Chenopodium album leaves. The prepared NPs were characterized using techniques such as Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). UV–Vis spectroscopy exhibited absorption maximum ( λ max ) at 271 nm for CuO NPs. The average size of crystallite was observed as 17 ± 3 nm using XRD. SEM illustrated that the shape of fabricated NPs was spherical. Elemental composition was further supported by EDX. The photocatalytic nature of prepared NPs was assessed by degradation of atrazine and abamectin. Maximum degradation 53.61 % and 57 % of abamectin and atrazine was observed in presence of these particles after the 180 min exposure time. The pesticides removal followed the zero-order kinetics. It may be concluded that CuO NPs synthesized from C. album could behave as suitable candidate for the degradation of toxic pollutants in wastewater.