title: Green synthesis of the Cu/ZnO nanoparticles mediated by Euphorbia prolifera leaf extract and investigation of their catalytic activity.
abstract: A green synthesis process was developed for the preparation of the Cu/ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) using Euphorbia prolifera leaf extract as a mild, renewable and non-toxic reducing agent and efficient stabilizer without using dangerous, hazardous and toxic materials. The approach of biosynthesis appears to be cost efficient eco-friendly and easy alternative to conventional methods of the Cu/ZnO NPs synthesis. The Cu/ZnO NPs were characterized by FESEM, EDS, elemental mapping, TEM and XRD. TEM micrograph has shown the formation of Cu NPs with the size in the range of 5-17 nm. In addition, the synthesized Cu/ZnO NPs presented excellent catalytic activity for the degradation of Methylene blue (MB) and Congo red (CR) in the presence of NaBH4 in water at room temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyedeh Samaneh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Momeni
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Qom, Qom 37185-359, Iran; Center of Environmental Researches, University of Qom, Qom, Iran. Electronic address: mahmoudnasr81@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasrollahzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rustaiyan
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D003224:Congo Red / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D028481:Euphorbia / Q000737:chemistry*; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology / Q000379:methods; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D019163:Reducing Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D019163:Reducing Agents; D003224:Congo Red; D003300:Copper; D015034:Zinc Oxide; D008751:Methylene Blue
keywords: Congo red; Cu/ZnO NPs; Euphorbia prolifera; Methylene blue; NaBH(4)