Sugarcane bagasse-facilitated benign synthesis of Cu2O nanoparticles and its role in photocatalytic degradation of toxic dyes: a trash to treasure approach

Abstract

The global water situation is highly challenging and requires immediate attention. It is pertinent to explore opportunities in wastewater treatment with an environment friendly route. An efficient method can be explored where biogenic nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by agricultural waste can further enhance its potential in cleaning the environment. Therefore, a green, surfactant-free and sustainable approach towards the genesis of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) was attempted. Cu2O NPs were synthesized using Fehling’s solution and sugarcane bagasse extract which plays a vital role both as reducing and capping agent. The Cu2O NPs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared and UV–Visible spectroscopy, and their morphology was determined by high-resolution X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope analysis. Their optical properties, i.e., band gaps, were calculated, and the catalytic efficiency was studied by carrying out the degradation of organic dyes [methyl orange (MO), methyl blue (MB), methyl red (MR) and Congo red (CR)] present in wastewater via spectrophotometric measurements. Simultaneously, their increasing order of degradation efficiency was found to be MR < CR < MB < MO. The mechanism of degradation of organic dyes on the surface of Cu2O NPs was also proposed. Utilizing the agricultural waste and trapping the reducing property of its polysaccharides components in facilitating the designing of the Cu2O NPs are a novel methodology. The current study envisages a new perspective for the purpose of environmental remediation and novel applications in photocatalysis.