Multitasking needle-shaped copper oxide nanorods decorated cystine modified polymer/graphene oxide nanocomposite for 4-nitrophenol reduction, dye degradation, and textile effluent treatment

Abstract

Nitroaromatic chemicals, including 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and dyes, pose substantial risks to human health and the environment. Various catalysts that facilitate the reduction of 4-NP to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) have been documented to reduce its toxicity. Herein, we developed a novel nanocomposite consisting of needle-like copper oxide nanorods immobilized with L-cystine functionalized polyglycidyl methacrylate integrated graphene oxide (Cys-PGMA@GO-CuO) nanocomposite. The formation of this nanocomposite was comprehensively characterized using various analytical techniques. X-ray diffraction revealed a semi-crystalline nature for pure PGMA/GO with a prominent peak at 2θ = 19.25°. The introduction of inherently crystalline CuO nanoparticles in Cys-PGMA@GO-CuO rendered the entire composite completely crystalline. Further, the photocatalytic efficiency of the Cys-PGMA@GO-CuO nanocomposite was evaluated through advanced oxidation processes (AOP) for treating various toxic pollutants in wastewater remediation. The nanocomposite efficiently degraded dyes like methyl orange (99.8%) and methylene blue (99.9%) in just 50 mins and reduced toxic 4-NP to 4-AP within 40 mins. We further investigated the optimal degradation conditions based on [oxidant], [dye], and the presence of scavengers to understand the rate of degradation. Notably, the composite exhibited remarkable recyclability and stability. The performance of Cys-PGMA@GO-CuO was further evaluated using real wastewater samples, achieving a remarkable decolorization of 99.5% in textile dyeing wastewater and 97.1% in methylene blue-contaminated tap water. These results demonstrate the promising potential of this nanocomposite as an economically viable alternative approach for removing various organic pollutants from wastewater. Additionally, its successful application in real water sample analysis suggests its significant potential for practical implementation in water treatment processes.