Recyclable Cu-Ag bimetallic nanocatalyst for radical scavenging, dyes removal and antimicrobial applications

Faisal Ali; Sadia Akbar; Mika Sillanpaa; Umer Younas; Adnan Ashraf; Muhammad Pervaiz; Rizwan Kausar; Ikram Ahmad; Asma A Alothman; Mohamed Ouladsmane

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137321

Recyclable Cu-Ag bimetallic nanocatalyst for radical scavenging, dyes removal and antimicrobial applications

Chemosphere. 2023 Feb:313:137321. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137321. Epub 2022 Nov 18.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Mining, Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering, University of Johannesburg, P. O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa; Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark.
³ Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: umer.younas@chem.uol.edu.pk.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: adnan.ashraf@chem.uol.edu.pk.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan.
⁶ Institute of Chemistry, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan.
⁷ Department of Chemistry, University of Sahiwal, Sahiwal, Pakistan.
⁸ Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 36410518
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137321

Abstract

An ecofriendly and cost effective green method has been used for the synthesis of recyclable, high functional nanoparticles. Bimetallic nanoparticles (BmNPs), Cu-Ag, have been synthesized using beetroot extract as reducing and capping agent. Formation of BmNPs was initially confirmed by UV-visible analysis, having distinct peaks of Ag at 429 nm and Cu at 628 nm. FTIR analysis also confirmed the association of bioactive phytochemicals with Cu-Ag nanoparticles. Crystallinity and morphology of BmNPs was determined through X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The size of spherical shape Cu-Ag BmNPs was found to be 75.58 nm and EDAX studies confirmed the percent elemental composition of Cu and Ag in synthesized nanocatalyst. Results of different analysis provided supported evidences regarding the formation of BmNPs. Catalytic potential of BmNPs was tested for the degradation of rhodamine B (Rh-B), methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes. Cu-Ag BmNPs exhibited outstanding catalytic activity for the degradation of selected organic dyes and percent degradation was recorded more than 90% for each dye. In addition, antiradical property of BmNPs was tested employing DPPH^● and ABTS^●+ assays and it was found to be promising. Synthesized BmNPs also exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhimurium and Bacillus subtilis. Recyclability of nanoparticles was also evaluated and recovery from dye degradation reaction mixture was successfully achieved. The recovered nanoparticles exhibited same catalytic potential for the degradation of Rh-B. The objective of the current study was to synthesize BmNPs Cu-Ag employing a cost effective green method having promising catalytic, antiradical and antimicrobial potential. Further, BmNPs were reused after recovery from catalytic reactions, proving that BmNPs can be recycled having the same efficiency as that of a freshly prepared Cu-Ag BmNPs.

Keywords: Bactericidal; Cu–Ag bimetallic; Dye degradation; Radical scavenging; Recyclable nanoparticles; Wastewater treatment.

MeSH terms

Anti-Infective Agents* / chemistry
Coloring Agents / chemistry
Metal Nanoparticles* / chemistry
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Silver / chemistry
Silver / pharmacology

Substances

Coloring Agents
Silver
Anti-Infective Agents