Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Green Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles Using Alchornea laxiflora Leaf Extract and Their Catalytic Application for Oxidative Desulphurization of Model Oil

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions A: Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Copper nanoparticles were biosynthesized using aqueous plant leaf extract of Alchornea laxiflora as reducing and capping agents. The as synthesized copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) were confirmed by the colour change after addition of the aqueous leaf extract of Alchornea laxiflora into copper sulphate solution. The CuNPs were characterized by UV–Visible spectrophotometer, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer. The result of HRTEM reveals the formation of CuNPs with an average size of 3.29 ± 0.57 nm. The biosynthesized CuNPs gave absorption at 364 nm and the FTIR spectrum shows the Cu–O stretching vibration at 590 cm−1. The synthesized CuNPs show higher catalytic activity than the conventional acetic acid catalyst used in the oxidative desulphurization of model oil. The CuNPs can, therefore, serve as an inexpensive alternative catalytic material that can be used in the oxidative desulphurization (ODS) process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Scheme 1
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Scheme 2
Fig. 6
Scheme 3
Scheme 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Angrasan JKVM, Subbaiya R (2014) Biosynthesis of copper nanoparticles by vitis vinifera leaf aqueous extract and its antibacterial activity. Int J Curr Microbiol App Sci 3(9):768–774

    Google Scholar 

  • Athanassiou EK, Grass RN, Stark WJ (2006) Large-scale production of carbon-coated copper nanoparticles for sensor applications. Nanotechnology 17:1668–1673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balaji DS, Basavaraja S, Deshpande R, Mahesh DB, Prabhakar BK, Venkataraman A (2009) Extracellular biosynthesis of functionalized silver nanoparticles by strains of Cladosporium cladosporioides fungus. Colloids Surf B 68:88–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baruah BP, Khare P (2007) Desulfurization of oxidized coals with solvent extraction and alkali treatment. Energy Fuels 21(4):2156–2164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya D, Rajinder G (2005) Nanotechnology and potential of microorganisms. Crit Rev Biotechnol 25:199–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castro L, Blazquez ML, Munoz JA, Gonzalez F, Garcıa-Balboa C, Ballester A (2011) Biosynthesis of gold nanowires using sugar beet pulp. Process Biochem 46:1076–1082

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan GH, Zhao J, Hicks EM, Schatz GC, Van Duyne RP (2007) Plasmonic Properties of copper nanoparticles fabricated by nanosphere lithography. Nano Lett 7(7):1947–1952

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen L, Zhang D, Chen J, Zhou H, Wan H (2006) The use of CTAB to control the size of copper nanoparticles and the concentration of alkylthiols on their surfaces. Mat Sci Eng A415:156–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • da Silva MJ, dos Santos LF (2013) Novel oxidative desulfurization of a model fuel with H2O2 catalyzed by AlPMo12O40 under phase transfer catalyst-free conditions. J Appl Chem. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/147945

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Giuseppe A, Crucianelli M, De Angelis F, Crestini C, Saladino R (2009) Efficient oxidation of thiophene derivatives with homogeneous and heterogeneous MTO/H2O2 systems: a novel approach for, oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of diesel fuel. Appl Catal B 89:239–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dutta AM, Saikia BK, Baruah BP (2012) Oxidative desulphurization of North-East Indian coals by using different metal ions/oxides as catalyst. Int J Innov Res Dev 1(7):214–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Eßer J, Wasserscheid P, Jess A (2004) Deep desulphurization of oil refinery streams by extraction with ionic liquids. Green Chem 6:316–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farhat MA, Al-Malki A, El-Ali B, Martinie G, Siddiqui MN (2006) Deep desulphurization of gasoline and diesel fuels using non-hydrogen consuming techniques. Fuel 85(10):1354–1363

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Gutierrez JL, Fuentes GA, Hernandez-Teran ME, Garcia P, Murrieta-Guevara F, Jimenez-Cruz F (2008) Ultra-deep oxidative desulfurization of diesel fuel by the Mo/Al2O3–H2O2 system: the effect of system parameters on catalytic activity. Appl Catal A 334:366–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gopinath M, Subbaiya R, Selvam MM, Suresh D (2014) Synthesis of copper nanoparticles from Nerium oleander leaf aqueous extract and its antibacterial activity. Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci 3:814–818

    Google Scholar 

  • Haas I, Shanmugam S, Gedanken A (2006) Pulsed Sonoelectrochemical Synthesis of Size-Controlled Copper Nanoparticles Stabilized by Poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone). J Phys Chem B 110(2006):16947–16952

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoover NN, Auten BJ, Chandler BD (2006) Turning supported catalyst reactivity with dendrimer-templated Pt-Cu nanoparticles. J Phys Chem B 110:8606–8612

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jayandran M, Haneefa MM, Balasubramanian V (2015) Green synthesis of copper nanoparticles using natural reducer and stabilizer and an evaluation of antimicrobial activity. J Chem Pharm Res 7(2):251–259

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang Z, Lu H, Zhang Y, Li C (2011) Oxidative desulphurization of fuel oils. Chin J Catal 32:707–715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joshi SS, Patil SF, Iyer V, Mahumuni S (1998) Radiation induced synthesis and characterization of copper nanoparticles. Nanostructured Mat 10:1135–1141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim YH, Lee DK, Jo BG, Jeong JH, Kang YS (2006) Synthesis of oleate capped Cu nanoparticles by thermal decomposition. Colloids Surf A. https://doi.org/10.1080/15421400500366522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni VD, Kulkarni PS (2013) Green synthesis of copper nanoparticles using ocimum sanctum leaf extract. Int J Chem Stud 1:1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni V, Kulkarni P (2014) Synthesis of copper nanoparticles with aegle marmelos leaf extract. Nanosci Nanotechnol 8:401–404

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamontagne J, Dumas P, Mouillet V, Kister J (2001) Comparison by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of different ageing techniques: application to road bitumen. Fuel 80(4):483–488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee H-J, Lee G, Jang NR, Yun JH, Song JY, Kim BS (2011) Biological synthesis of copper nanoparticles using plant extract. NSTI-Nanotech 1:371–374

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee HJ, Song JY, Kim BS (2013) Biological synthesis of copper nanoparticles using Magnolia kobus leaf extract and their antibacterial activity. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 88:1971–1977

    Google Scholar 

  • Ley SV, Thomas AW (2003) Modern synthetic methods for copper-mediated C(aryl)[bond]O, C(aryl)[bond]N, and C(aryl)[bond]S bond formation. Angew Chem Int Ed 42:5400–5449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lim S, Hudson SM (2004) Application of a fiber-reactive chitosan derivative to cotton fibric as an antimicrobial textile finish. Carbohydr Polym 56:227–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lisiecki I, Bjorling M, Motte L, Ninham B, Pileni M (1995) Synthesis of copper nanosize particles in anionic reverse micelles: effect of the addition of a cationic surfactant on the size of the crystallites. Langmuir 11:2385–2392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu P, Wang H, Li X, Rui M, Zeng H (2015) Localized surface Plasmon resonance of Cu nanoparticles by laser ablation in liquid media. RSC Adv. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA14933A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu L, Sui ML, Lu K (2000) Superplastic extensibility of nanocrystalline copper at room temperature. Science 287(2000):1463–1466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mallikarjuna K, Narasimha G, Dillip G, Praveen B, Shreedhar B, Sreelakshmi C, Reddy B, Deva P (2011) Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Ocimum leaf extract and their characterization. J Nanomater Biostruct 6(2011):181–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall AT, Haverkamp RG, Davies CE, Parsons JG, Gardea-Torresdey JL, van Agterveld D (2007) Accumulation of gold nanoparticles in Brassic juncea. Int J Phytoremed 9:197–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammad FA, Abdullah A, Bassam EA (2006) Deep desulphurization of gasoline and diesel fuels using non-hydrogen consuming techniques. Fuel 86:1354–1363

    Google Scholar 

  • Nasrollahzadeh M, Enayati M, Khalaj M (2014) Synthesis of N-arylureas in water and their N-arylation with halides using copper nanoparticles loaded on natural Natrolite zeolite under ligand-free conditions. RSC Adv 4:26264–26270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nasrollahzadeh M, Sajadi SM, Rostami-Vartooni A, Khalaj M (2015) Green synthesis of palladium nanoparticles using Hippophae rhamnoides Linn leaf extract and their catalytic activity for the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling in water. J Mol Catal A: Chem 396:3–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogundipe OO, Moody JO, Houghton PJ, Odelola HA (2001) Bioactive chemical constituents from Alchornea laxiflora (benth) pax and hoffman. J Ethnopharm 74(3):275–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palaić N, Sertić-Bionda K, Margeta D, Podolski Š (2015) Oxidative Desulphurization of diesel fuels. Chem Biochem Eng Q 29(3):323–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pattanayak M, Nayak PL (2013) Green Synthesis and characterization of zero valent iron nanoparticles from the leaf extract of azadirachta indica(neem). World J Nanosci Technol 2:6–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Philip D (2009) Biosynthesis of Au, Ag and Au–Ag nanoparticles using edible mushroom extract Spectrochimica Acta A. Mol Biomol Spectrosc 73(2009):374–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ponce AA, Klabunde KJ (2005) Chemical and catalytic activity of copper nanoparticles prepared via metal vapor synthesis. J Mol Catal A225:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu GM, Wang CJ, Zhang YJ, Huang S, Liu XL, Zhang BJ, Zhou XL (2012) Synthesis, structure and biological properties of a novel copper (II) supramolecular compound based on 1,2,4-triazoles derivatives. Bull Korean Chem Soc 33:2603–2608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranjit S, Duan Z, Zhang P, Liu X (2010) Synthesis of vinyl sulfides by copper-catalyzed decarboxylative C-S cross-coupling. Org Lett 12:4134–4136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reymond S, Cossy J (2008) Copper-catalyzed diels-alder reactions. Chem Rev 108:5359–5406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Safaei-Ghomi J, Ziarati A, Teymuri R (2012) CuI nanoparticles as new, efficient and reusable catalyst for the on-pot synthesis of 1,4-dihydrpyridines. Bull Korean Chem Soc 33:2679–2682

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saranyaadevi K, Subha V, Ravindran RE, Renganathan S (2014) Synthesis and characterization of copper nanoparticle using capparis zeylanica leaf extract. Int J Chem Tech Res 6:4533–4541

    Google Scholar 

  • Sastry ABS, Karthik AR, Linga PR, Murthy BS (2013) Large-scale green synthesis of Cu nanoparticles. Environ Chem Lett 11:183–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shah M, Fawcett D, Sharma S, Tripathy SK, Poinern GEJ (2015) Green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles via biological entities. Materials 8:7278–7308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shakirullah M, Ahmad W, Ahmad I, Ishaq M (2010) Oxidative desulphurization study of gasoline and kerosene role of some organic and inorganic oxidants. Fuel Process Technol 91:1736–1741

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solanki JN, Sengupta R, Murthy ZVP (2010) Synthesis of copper sulphide and copper nanoparticles with microemulsion method. Solid State Sci 12:1560–1566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soomro R, Sherazi S, Sirajuddin MN, Shah M, Kalwar N, Hallam K, Shah A (2014) Synthesis of air stable copper nanoparticles and their use in catalysis. Adv Mat Lett 5:191–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Subhankari I, Nayak PL (2013) Antimicrobial activity of copper nanoparticles synthesised by ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract world. J Nanosci Technol 2:10–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang D, Qian EW, Amano H, Okata K, Ishihara A, Kabe T (2003a) Oxidative desulphurization of fuel oil: Part 1. Oxidation of dibenzothiophenes using tert-butyl hydroperoxide. Appl Catal A 263:91–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang D, Qian EW, Amano H, Okata K, Ishihara A, Kabe T (2003b) Oxidative desulfurization of fuel Part1. Oxidation of dibenzothiophene using tert-butyl hydroperoxide. Appl Catal A 253:91–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Li G, Wang X, Jin C (2007) Oxidative Desulphurization of 4,6 dimethyldibenzothiophene with hydrogen peroxide over Ti-HMS. Energy Fuels 21:1415–1419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh MS, Yang YS, Lee YP, Lee HF, Yeh YH, Yeh CS (1999) Formation and characteristics of Cu colloids from CuO powder by laser irradiation in 2-propanol. J Phys Chem B 103:6851–6857

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zain NM, Stapley AGF, Shama G (2014) Green synthesis of silver and copper nanoparticles using ascorbic acid and chitosan for antimicrobial applications. Carbohydr Polym 112:195–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu W, Li H, Jiang X, Yan Y, Lu J, Xia J (2007) Oxidative desulfurization of fuels catalyzed by peroxotungsten and peroxomolybdenum complexes in ionic liquids. Energy Fuels 21:2514–2516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ziegler KJ, Doty RC, Johnston KP, Korgel BA (2001) Synthesis of organic monolayer-stabilized copper nanocrystals in supercritical water. J Am Chem Soc 123:7797–7803

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

All authors thank Technologists of Research Centre of the University of KwaZulu-natal, South Africa for their Technical assistance. This research is self-sponsored and did not receive any grant from funding agencies either in the public, commercial or non-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Industrial/Environmental Chemistry Unit, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria

    A. A. Olajire, N. F. Ifediora & M. D. Bello

  2. Environmental Chemistry Unit, Department of Chemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

    N. U. Benson

Authors
  1. A. A. Olajire
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. F. Ifediora
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. D. Bello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. U. Benson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. A. Olajire.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

All the authors declared that they have no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Olajire, A.A., Ifediora, N.F., Bello, M.D. et al. Green Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles Using Alchornea laxiflora Leaf Extract and Their Catalytic Application for Oxidative Desulphurization of Model Oil. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Sci 42, 1935–1946 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-017-0404-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40995-017-0404-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation