Synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles
A method of synthesizing copper oxide nanoparticles includes preparing a liquid extract of Rumex vesicarius , dissolving copper salt in the liquid extract to provide a solution with copper nanoparticles, adding a base to the solution with copper nanoparticles to form a precipitate including copper oxide nanoparticles. Copper oxide nanoparticles prepared according to the method are effective photocatalysts for degrading organic dyes and antibacterial agents and exhibit anticancer activities.
1. A method of synthesizing metal oxide nanoparticles, comprising the steps of:
a) adding boiled water to Rumex vesicarius material to produce a liquid extract;
b) filtering the liquid extract to produce a filtered liquid extract;
c) dissolving a metal salt in the filtered liquid extract to produce a solution with metal nanoparticles;
d) adding a base to the solution with metal nanoparticles to form a precipitate;
e) removing liquid from the precipitate to provide a pellet;
f) drying the pellet, to produce a powder including metal oxide nanoparticles.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising heating the metal salt in the filtered liquid extract to about 80° C.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base is sodium hydroxide.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal is copper and the metal salt is copper acetate.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Rumex vesicarius material is dried Rumex vesicarius leaves.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base is added dropwise with constant stirring.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pellet is dried at about 60° C. for a period of time ranging from about two to six hours.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of calcining the dried pellet.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of calcining is performed at a temperature ranging from about 300° C. to about 500° C.