The use of copper oxides, supported onto biogenic silica from the leaves of dendrocalamus asper for the degradation of congo red

Abstract

Silica, which may be isolated from leaves, is one of the better known catalyst supports having a large surface area and high stability. Photocatalysts of the type CuOx@SiO2 were prepared using biogenic silica isolated from Dendrocalamus asper leaves, and evaluated for Congo red degradation. The photocatalysts of CuOx@SiO2 (CuOx=0.00%,0.25%, and 0.50%) was obtained by impregnating the silica in the Cu(NO3)·3H2O solution. A combination XRD and SEM-EDX techniques confirmed the formation of CuOx as the active phase of the CuOx@SiO2. The UV-Vis spectroscopy method was used to determine the maximum absorbance and bandgap of the catalysts. Photodegradation assays showed that copper oxides supported onto biogenic silica isolated from Dendrocalamus asper leaf was efficient for Congo red degradation, and that the material worked well in the presence of both UV and visible light.