Efficient Degradation of Endocrine Disruptors Using 1D and 3D Copper (I) Oxide Nanostructures

Abstract

The visible light photocatalytic degradation of a synthetic oral contraceptive, 17 alpha- ethinylestradiol (EE2) and a natural estrogen, estrone (E1) by Cu2O nanostructures has been investigated. For this purpose, Cu2O 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 Cu2O nanostructures work best at pH7 with decrease in efficiency at higher pH. Cu2O nano- rods has emerged as the best visible light photocatalyst at pH7 (95% degradation within 45 minutes of irradiation) reported till date for the degradation of estrogens EE2 and E1.