Green synthesis,
characterization and evaluation of the degradation potential of bimetallic copper-zinc
nanoparticles for azo dye using Red Sage (Lantana camara)
Bhatti Laxmi, Panchal Kamaljit, Bhatia Divya, Kumar Rajesh and Khatak Sunita
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 21(1); 28-37;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/211rjbt028037; (2026)
Abstract
Nanoparticles have expanded their horizon in different sectors like cosmetics, medicines
and agrochemicals. The synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extract is a very
efficient, cost-effective, useful and ecologically friendly technology. Lantana
camara is one of the potential plants for biosynthesis of nanoparticles due to its
easy availability. In the present study, the Lantana camara plant extract was exploited
for synthesis of copper, zinc and copper-zinc nanoparticles. UV-Vis spectroscopy,
Fourier Transform Infrared and Dynamic light scattering were performed for characterization
of synthesized nanoparticles. UV-Vis spectroscopy provided corroborating evidence,
affirming the optical properties of the zinc, copper and copper-zinc nanoparticles
with an observed absorption peak at 398, 570 and 437 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis
unequivocally confirmed the crystalline nature of the zinc, copper and copper-zinc
nanoparticles, revealing an average particle size of 18.7, 37.0 and 14.4 nm.
Further insights from Field emission scanning electron microscopy elucidated that
the nanoparticles exhibited an irregular shaped with agglomeration, displaying particle
sizes ranging around 38.8 nm. The polydispersity index of synthesized copper, zinc
and copper-zinc nanoparticles was 0.486, 0.344 and 0.243 with net surface charge
of -35.56, -34.87 and 34.13mV which infers to the stability of nanoparticles. Biosynthesized
copper, zinc and copper-zinc nanoparticles revealed potent dye degradation potential
against Congo red dye.
