Cerium oxide nanoparticles: Biosynthesis, characterization, antimicrobial, ecotoxicity and photocatalytic activity

• Published in: Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. A, Chemistry. Chemistry., 2023-08, Vol.442, p.114773, Article 114773
• Main Authors: Moro Druzian, Daniel, Rodrigues Oviedo, Leandro, Nunes Loureiro, Sthéfany, Dias Wouters, Robson, Stefanello Vizzotto, Bruno, de Oliveira Pinto, Eduarda, Julia Schűssler de Vanconcellos, Noeli, Patricia Moreno Ruiz, Yolice, Galembeck, André, Pavoski, Giovani, Crocce Romano Espinosa, Denise, dos Santos, Cristiane, Leonardo da Silva, William
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cerium oxide; Ecotoxicity; Heterogeneous photocatalysis; Matricaria recutita; Sustainability
• ISSN: 1010-6030; 1873-2666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2023.114773

•CeO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by biosynthesis method from M. recutita extract.•Stronger electronic interaction (Eg = 1.94 eV) was found to CeO2 nanoparticles.•Degradation efficiency of CeO2 nanoparticles for the component system was around 92%.•CeO2 nanoparticles recycling showed a photocatalytic stability (0.0139–0.0105 min−1).•Artificial Neural Network model proposed showed higher accuracy (R2 = 0.9999). The present work aims to synthesize and characterize cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) for application in the photodegradation of methylene blue – MB and methyl orange -MO. CeO2-NPs were prepared by biosynthesis method using Matricaria recutita extract. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus and K. pneumoniae. Microcrustacean Artemia salina was used for the ecotoxicity test. Central Composite Rotational Design (CCRD 22 and 23) was used to determine the ideal condition for the biosynthesis process and photocatalytic tests, respectively. CCRD 22 indicated the variables of extract concentration and time were significant 6 mg L−1 and 120 min, respectively with the higher yield of nanoparticles (15.71%), and CeO2-NPs crystallite diameter of 16.36 nm. CCRD 23 determined the ideal condition to [MB.MO] = 60 mg L−1, [CeO2-NPs] = 1 g L−1 and pH = 4, with 93% for the dyes photodegradation, indicating a pseudo-first order model (k = 0.0139 min−1). CeO2-NPs showed photocatalytic stability after 6 cycles. Ecotoxicity of CeO2-NPs did not show mortality for A. salina in the 10–2.5 mg mL−1. Therefore, it was possible to synthesize metallic nanoparticles of cerium oxide, with great potential for application as a nanophotocatalyst.