Some applications of green synthesis CuNPs using wild apple (ziziphus mauritiana) leaves extract

Abstract

For the first time, copper nanoparticles were successfully green synthesized via Cu(II) reduction by using wild apple (Ziziphus mauritiana) leaf extract (CuNPs-WAE). The synthesized CuNPs-WAE were characterized by some modern techniques: XRD, FTIR and SEM. The results showed that, the predominant crystalline phase was metallic Cu, accompanied by minor Cu₂O impurities, the particles formed slightly agglomerated with dimensions 50-70 nm in width and 80-200 nm in length, surface functionalization was attributed to phytochemicals present in the wild apple leaves extract. CuNPs-WAE exhibited significant cytotoxicity against liver cancer cells, achieving an 85% inhibition rate at a concentration of 128 µg/mL. CuNPs-WAE also exhibites notable photocatalytic activity under sunlight, strongly influenced by the type of dye and Cu concentration. After 120 minutes of exposure, degradation efficiency for rhodamine B and methylene blue reached 97.5 % and 99.0 %, respectively, whereas direct red only reached 69.0 %. The photocatalytic degradation followed the pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics, mainly due to the activity of the superoxide radicals (*O₂^-). Photocatalytic activity decreases slightly during regeneration and reuse.