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Vol. 37 No. 4 (2025): Vol 37 Issue 4, 2025

Copyright (c) 2025 Rajasekhar VSR Pullabhotla

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Biosynthesis of Copper Nanoparticles and its Application in Vulindlela Wastewater Treatment Plant and Removal of Toxic Dye

https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2025.33116
M.P.D. Sibisi
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa Campus, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1072-7660
A.K. Basson
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa Campus, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7685-2099
Z.G. Ntombela
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa Campus, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4107-2740
M. Singh
Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9985-6567
V.S.R. Rajasekhar Pullabhotla
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa Campus, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0093-460X

Corresponding Author(s) : V.S.R. Rajasekhar Pullabhotla

pullabhotlav@unizulu.ac.za

Asian Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 37 No. 4 (2025): Vol 37 Issue 4, 2025

Abstract

Chemical flocculants are known to pose environmental risks due to their toxicity, prompting interest in biodegradable and eco-friendly bioflocculants as alternatives. Despite their environmental benefits, the industrial adorption of bioflocculants is hindered by their lower efficiency and high production costs. Nanotechnology offers promising solutions for removing contaminant and pathogenic bacteria from potable water. The bioflocculant Kytococcus sedentarius was utilized to produce copper nanoparticles (CuNPs). Biosynthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscope (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). CuNPs exhibited a wide pH stability with pH 7 having a highest flocculating activity of 98% with a low dosage size of 0.2 mg/mL. Cytotoxicity test results revealed that the nanoparticles are non-toxic at low concentrations up to 75 µL. Moreover, the synthesized nanoparticles have antimicrobial activity when tested. The biosynthesized CuNPs removed dyes effectively with the removal efficiency of ± 90% on all treated dyes. The CuNPs had a high biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies of 93% and 97%, respectively. Thus, the as-synthesized CuNPs have a potential to be applied in wastewater treatment to replace synthetic flocculants.

Keywords

Copper nanoparticles Removal efficiency Antimicrobial Application Flocculation
(1)
Sibisi, M.; Basson, A.; Ntombela, Z.; Singh, M.; Pullabhotla, V. R. Biosynthesis of Copper Nanoparticles and Its Application in Vulindlela Wastewater Treatment Plant and Removal of Toxic Dye. ajc 2025, 37, 975-983.
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