Moringa oleifera seed based green synthesis of copper nanoparticles: Characterization, environmental remediation and antimicrobial activity

Textile dyes and heavy metals like hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] are considered major water pollutants. In addition, microbial contamination also seriously threatens potable water availability. The present study used Moringa oleifera seed aqueous extract to synthesize copper nanoparticles (MOS-CuNPs). MOS-CuNPs were characterized by various spectroscopy and microscopic techniques. MOS-CuNPs were shown to be effectual at removal of Cr(VI). The initial concentration of Cr(VI), contact time, pH, and temperature all impacted the removal of Cr(VI) by different concentrations of MOS-CuNPs. At low concentrations of MOS-CuNPs (0.3 mg/ml) pseudo-first order and high concentrations of MOS-CuNPs (0.4 and 0.5 mg/ml), pseudo-second order kinetics were obeyed. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that Cr(VI) was removed spontaneously, and the reaction was exothermic. In adsorption isotherm, equilibrium data followed Langmuir equation for Cr(VI) adsorption by MOS-CuNPs and maximum uptake capacity calculated was 38.6 mg/g. MOS-CuNPs efficiently removed cationic (rhodamine B, malachite green and methylene blue and) and anionic (congo red, titan yellow and methyl orange) dyes within 10 min of contact time. Further MOS-CuNPs showed antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Altogether, MOS-CuNPs could be used for environmental (water treatment) and biological applications.