Sustainable engineering and characterization of plant-synthesized CuO nanoparticles for synergistic photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes from wastewater

The pursuit of reliable, effective, and environment friendly approaches to tackle the problem of industrial-grade toxic dye contaminants of wastewater remains a considerable challenge. In this context, copper oxide nanostructure (CuO NPs) was produced through a straightforward, sustainable, and economical green approach by employing Cocos nucifera leaf extract as a reductive and protective agent along with copper sulfate as a metal salt source. The structural parameters of the prepared materials were investigated by using various spectroscopic techniques. The UV–Vis analysis of the prepared copper oxide nanostructure exhibited a surface plasmon resonance band at 252 nm. The scanning electron micrograph of the developed materials reveals that the particles are irregular in shape, with an average particle size of 60 nm. The CuO NPs demonstrated an outstanding ability to remove industrial dye, achieving 94% removal of malachite green (MG) and 70% removal of eriochrome black T (EBT) in 100 min of contact time. The CuO-based nanocatalyst exhibited recyclability for the photocatalytic removal of dye molecules and maintained its effectiveness after five repeated iterations. Due to their excellent recyclability, photocatalytic efficiency, and compatibility, the CuO NPs offer an innovative approach for the treatment of wastewater containing textile dye.