Abstract
Biomineralization is a ubiquitous process in organisms to produce biominerals, and a wide range of metallic nanoscale minerals can be produced as a consequence of the interactions of micro-organisms with metals and minerals. Copper-bearing nanoparticles produced by biomineralization mechanisms have a variety of applications due to their remarkable catalytic efficiency, antibacterial properties and low production cost. In this study, we demonstrate the biotechnological potential of copper carbonate nanoparticles (CuNPs) synthesized using a carbonate-enriched biomass-free ureolytic fungal spent culture supernatant. The efficiency of the CuNPs in pollutant remediation was investigated using a dye (methyl red) and a toxic metal oxyanion, chromate Cr(VI). The biogenic CuNPs exhibited excellent catalytic properties in a Fenton-like reaction to degrade methyl red, and efficiently removed Cr(VI) from solution due to both adsorption and reduction of Cr(VI). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) identified the oxidation of reducing Cu species of the CuNPs during the reaction with Cr(VI). This work shows that urease-positive fungi can play an important role not only in the biorecovery of metals through the production of insoluble nanoscale carbonates, but also provides novel and simple strategies for the preparation of sustainable nanomineral products with catalytic properties applicable to the bioremediation of organic and metallic pollutants, solely and in mixtures.
Highlights
Nanoscience is a rapidly developing field that covers a wide-range of applications in different areas of science and technology, and research on the synthesis of biogenic nanoparticles is receiving increasing attention
We demonstrate the biotechnological potential of copper carbonate nanoparticles (CuNPs) synthesized using a carbonate-enriched biomass-free ureolytic fungal spent culture supernatant
Formation and characterization of Cu carbonate nanoparticles (CuNPs) by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and confocal microscopy To optimize the formation of Cu-bearing nanoparticles (CuNPs) and avoid precipitation of phosphate minerals, N. crassa was inoculated and incubated in an AP1 liquid medium for 3 days, followed by incubation in phosphate-free AP1 medium for 12 days at 25 °C
Summary
Nanoscience is a rapidly developing field that covers a wide-range of applications in different areas of science and technology, and research on the synthesis of biogenic nanoparticles is receiving increasing attention. The biogenic CuNPs exhibited excellent catalytic properties in a Fenton-like reaction to degrade methyl red, and efficiently removed Cr(VI) from solution due to both adsorption and reduction of Cr(VI).
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