Biogenic synthesis, characterization and effects of Mn-CuO composite nanocatalysts on Methylene blue photodegradation and Human erythrocytes

Each year more than 150, 000 tons of dyes are released in effluents by industries. These chemicals entities non-biodegradable and toxic can be removed from effluent by metallic nanomaterials. The aqueous extract of Manotes expansa leaves is used as reducing and stabilizing agent in the biogenic synthesis of Mn-CuO nanocomposites. The nanoparticles obtained were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Fluorescence, Dynamic Light Scattering (DSL), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The hemotoxicity of biosynthesized nanomaterials was assessed by evaluating their hemolytic activity using erythrocytes as a model system. The photocatalytic activity of Mn-CuO was carried out by photocatalytic degradation of Methylene Blue dye as a model. The results obtained by UV-vis spectroscopy showed a Plasmonic Surface Resonance band at 408 nm. XRD and X-ray fluorescence made it possible to identify the presence of particles of formula Mn_0.53Cu_0.21O having crystallized in a Hexagonal system (a = 3.1080 Å and c = 5.2020 Å). Spherical morphology and average height 49.34 ± 6.71 nm were determined by SEM and DSL, respectively. The hemolytic activity of biosynthesized nanomaterials revealed that they are not hemotoxic in vitro (% hemolysis 3.2%) and 98.3% of Methylene Blue dye was removed after 120 min under irradiation with solar light in the presence of Mn-CuO nanocomposites.