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Efficient Degradation of Endocrine Disruptors Using 1D and 3D Copper (I) Oxide Nanostructures
Author(s) -
Mukherjee Indrani,
Mishrra Anushka,
Saha Rajnarayan,
Chatterjee Sriparna
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemistryselect
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2365-6549
DOI - 10.1002/slct.201701181
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , degradation (telecommunications) , nanostructure , bisphenol a , materials science , nano , copper , nanoparticle , chemical engineering , copper oxide , nuclear chemistry , nanocrystal , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , catalysis , metallurgy , organic chemistry , composite material , telecommunications , engineering , computer science , epoxy
The visible light photocatalytic degradation of a synthetic oral contraceptive, 17α‐ ethinylestradiol (EE2) and a natural estrogen, estrone (E1) by Cu 2 O nanostructures has been investigated. For this purpose, Cu 2 O nanocrystals with varied morphologies (nano‐ cubes, nano‐ octahedra and nano‐ rods) have been synthesized via different synthetic routes. The morphological evolution from nano‐ cubes to nano‐ octahedra with simple alteration of the stabilizing agent (PVP) has been shown. To account for the pH effect on the degradation rates, the photocatalytic experiments have been conducted in three different pH values (7, 8 and 10). Photocatalytic studies prove that the Cu 2 O nanostructures work best at pH 7 with decrease in efficiency at higher pH. Cu 2 O nano‐ rods has emerged as the best visible light photocatalyst at pH 7 (95 % degradation within 45 minutes of irradiation) reported till date for the degradation of estrogens EE2 and E1.