Green Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles and its Efficiency in Degradation of Rifampicin Antibiotic Dennis Mwanza Nzilu.,^1*; Edwin Shigwenya Madivoli.,¹; David Sujee Makhanu.,²; Sammy Indire Wanakai.,¹; Gideon Kirui Kiprono.,¹; and Patrick Gachoki Kareru.,¹ 

¹Chemistry Department, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya

² Department of Biological & Physical Sciences, Karatina University, P.O. Box 1957-10101, Karatina, Kenya *Corresponding author: dennisym21@gmail.com 

Abstract

❖Copper Oxide Nanoparticles (CuO NPs) successfully synthesized using aqueous extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus plant

❖CuO NPs showed to be promising in degradation of rifampicin antibiotic

❖Hence green approach to reduce water pollution from active pharmaceutical ingredients such as antibiotic

Introduction

❖ 26% of worlds population lack access to safe drinking water

❖ Water scarcity affecting about 3 billion people globally

❖ Water pollution from Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) continues to rise

❖ Antimicrobial resistance from these antibiotics, threatens human health

❖ Limitations of conventional wastewater treatment plants in removing these pollutants

❖ Nanoparticles attractive in removing the pollutants

❖ Cost effective, energy efficient, simple and environmentally friendly synthesis of CuO NPs using Parthenium hysterophorus plant for antibiotic removal from        water systems

Methodology

provided in a schematic diagram

Results

❖ UV-Vis analysis showed SPR peak associated with CuO NPs at 337 nm

❖ Cu-O characteristic peak in IR observed at 522 cm-1

❖ SEM micrograph revealed that CUO NPs were spherical in shape with average particle size of 59.99 nm

❖ XRD pattern showed that CuO NPs had monoclinic crystalline structure with crystallite size of 31.58 nm

❖ Degradation studies were conducted at varying conditions and degradation efficiency calculated

❖ Degradation efficiency increased proportionally with CuO NPs dose, interaction time and temperature

❖ Degradation efficiency decreased with increased rifampicin antibiotic

❖The degradation of rifampicin was studied at optimal conditions (50 mg CuO NPs, 10 mg/L rifampicin solution, pH 2 at 65 ℃ for 8 minutes

❖Degradation efficiency of rifampicin greater than 98% was achieved at these optimal conditions

Conclusion 

❖ In this study, we demonstrated a successful synthesis of CuO NPs using aqueous extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus plant

❖ Highest degradation efficiency (˃98%) of rifampicin antibiotic was observed using 50 mg CuO NPs, 10 mg/L rifampicin, pH 2, at 65 ℃ within 8 minutes

❖ Therefore, green prepared CuO NPs are promising in removing antibiotics from water systems, increasing water safety

Acknowledgments

We thank Chemistry of Department, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

Reference 

Nzilu, D. M., Madivoli, E. S., Makhanu, D. S., Wanakai, S. I., Kiprono, G. K., & Kareru, P. G. (2023). Green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles and its efficiency in degradation of rifampicin antibiotic. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 14030.