Montmorillonite based copper oxide nanoparticles for the efficient remediation of phosphate and anti-bacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria

The present work describes the potential applications of Montmorillonite-derived Copper Oxide Nanocomposite (MMT-CuONC) which was prepared via a chemical reduction method using clay Montmorillonite (MMT K10) as a stabilizing agent. The nanocomposite effectively and efficiently removed PO43- from the aqueous solution with maximum removal of 89.2% in 40 min. SEM-EDX analysis confirmed the adsorption of phosphate onto the surface of the nanocomposite. Antibacterial potential of the nanocomposite was also studied for two Gram-negative bacterial strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter aerogenes where the maximum zone of inhibition observed was 32 mm and 33 mm at 40 mg/mL, respectively. The adsorption kinetic data of the PO43- removal by MMT-CuONC was well represented by a pseudo-second-order model indicating chemisorptions of phosphate ions. The adsorption isotherm data fitted better to Langmuir isotherm illustrating monolayer sorption with the finite number of similar sites on the surface of the nanocomposite. Qm was 250 with monolayer adsorption capacity b = 0.0255 (L/mg). The adsorption thermodynamic studies suggest that the removal of phosphate by MMT-CuONC is endothermic and spontaneous in nature. The results revealed that MMT-CuONC acted as an efficacious adsorbent for the removal of phosphate from the waste water.

Automated summary

This study successfully prepared a montmorillonite-based nanocomposite that efficiently removes phosphate ions from water and also exhibits antibacterial potential. The adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption isotherms fit well with the Langmuir isotherm, indicating chemical adsorption. These findings suggest that the MMT-CuONC nanocomposite has promising applications as an adsorbent for phosphate removal in wastewater.