Biofabricated
Copper/Gelatin Nanocomposite from Pithecellobium dulce Leaves: Effective Catalyst
for Dye Degradation
Vijaya Bharathi S. and Lavanya
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 20(3); 8-14;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/203rjbt08014; (2025)
Abstract
Pithecellobium dulce is a plant of many uses which has a versatile role in the traditional
system of medicine. In the present study, antimicrobial activity and photocatalytic
activity of copper nanocomposite were checked. Copper nanoparticle was synthesized
using aqueous extract of Pithecellobium dulce and the gelatin hydrogel was prepared.
The structure of gelatin hydrogel and synthesized copper nanoparticle was characterized
by Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Antimicrobial
activity of copper nanoparticle was checked by well diffusion method. The prepared
gelatin hydrogel copper nanocomposite was checked for its effect against dye degradation.
Synthesised copper nanoparticle was found more effective against B. subtilis than
towards E. coli and K. pneumonia.
Photocatalytic dye degradation of Cu/hydrogel composite was 25% and 95% against
congo red and methylene blue dye respectively. Copper gelatin nanocomposite showed
better photocatalytic decolourization of methylene blue dye and followed pseudo
first order kinetics. The results of this study will be helpful in understanding
the mechanism of dye degradation through composite materials and will help in the
development of an efficient technique for degradation and decolourization of dye
existing in industrial wastewater.
