Green Synthesis of CuO NPs Using Tapioca Peel for Photocatalytic Degradation of Pharmaceutical Wastewater

Water pollution, driven by the widespread release of pharmaceutical drugs, poses a global environmental and public health threat. The presence of antibiotic resistance compounds further compounds these concerns. Highly industrialized regions like India and China experience alarming levels of water pollution, primarily due to organic pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and plastics, which persist in the environment due to their recalcitrance. Existing wastewater treatment methods are ill-equipped to address these emerging micropollutants. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), notably photocatalysis, have shown promise in degrading persistent pollutants. Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles, recognized for their efficiency as photocatalysts under visible light, offer a sustainable solution. While various methods exist for CuO nanoparticle fabrication, green synthesis method, particularly using plant extracts, emerges as on green-synthesized CuO nanoparticles for photocatalytic applications. An eco-friendly and cost-effective approach. However, limited research focuses this study explores different green synthesis methods of CuO nanoparticles, with a particular emphasis on their use in photocatalytic applications for organic pollutant removal from wastewater, using tapioca peel as a natural source.