Ultrasonic assisted green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles: a real catalytic and antimicrobial agent

ABSTRACT

This study reported facile biosynthesis of CuO nanoparticles employing leaf extract of Prosopis glandulosa as a stabilising agent by modest ultrasonic assisted technique. The synthesised nanoparticles were characterised via greatly refined systems comprising UV-visible, FTIR, XRD, SEM EDX, Zeta sizer, and Zeta potential. These facilities triggered the study of optical, functionality, crystallinity, surface morphology, elemental composition, and surface potential of the synthesised nanoparticles. The SEM and FT-IR analysis confirmed the semi-spherical shapes and functionalities of the synthesised NPs respectively. The zeta size and zeta potential of CuO NPs were established to be 65 nm and −1.42 mV respectively. The resultant NPs were applied as an efficient antimicrobial and catalytic candidate for the successful degradation of Eriochrome Black T (EBT) dye. Various factors were optimised such as dose, time, and NaBH₄ concentration to achieve maximum catalytic efficiency of CuO nanoparticles. The NPs show excellent catalytic performance of about 92% degradation of EBT within 30 minutes. The antimicrobial performance was also tested by varying the concentration of NPs (250, 500, 1000, and 2000 g/mL via disc diffusion protocol. The results show that CuO NPs have excellent antibacterial activity alongside E. coli at MIC values of 250 g/mL as equated to S. areas and Aspergillus niger.

KEYWORDS:

• Prosopis glandulosa
• CuO nanoparticles
• catalytic reduction
• antimicrobial activity
• biosynthesis
• Aspergillus niger

Acknowledgments

RMO & IA affectionately acknowledges the award of the NCP-UNESCO-TWAS Postdoctoral Fellowship.

RMO & MM sincerely acknowledges the award of the UNISA (SIRGS and CGS) Postdoctoral Fellowship.

RMO honestly recognises the grant by TETFUND under IBR contract number TETFUND/DR&D/CE/UNI/UMUAGWO/IBR/2022/VOL.1#22.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

KS, RMO, AB, and MOD synthesised the nanomaterials, fabricated various electrodes, carried out the characterisations, and analysed the results. A, AMM, HEN, and SAC worked on the manuscript’s editing. The data were conceptualised, proofread, and confirmed by MYS and IA.

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author [R. M. Obodo] upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund [TETFUND/DR&D/CE/UNI/UMUAGWO/IBR/2022/VOL.1#22].