Degradation of Congo Red using polymer-stabilized metal nanocatalyst

The discharge of synthetic dyes, exemplified by Congo Red (CR), into natural ecosystems poses a substantial threat to environmental sustainability and human health. To address this challenge, nanocatalysts have emerged as promising tools for efficient pollutant degradation. In this study, polyacrylate-stabilized copper nanoparticles (PA@Cu) were synthesized using sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) and evaluated for their catalytic activity in CR degradation. The structural and morphological properties of PA@Cu were characterized using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), revealing OH stretching vibrations, carbonyl groups, and metal–oxygen stretching vibrations indicative of nanoparticle stabilization. Moreover, the X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) confirms the crystallinity of the NPs. Catalytic performance evaluation demonstrated rapid and efficient decolorization of CR solutions in 12 min up to 82%, with a pseudo-first-order kinetic model yielding a K_app value of 0.1293 min⁻¹ and an R² value of 0.8101. Turnover frequency (TOF) analysis revealed dynamic reaction rates over distinct time intervals. The findings suggest that PA@Cu nanoparticles hold significant potential as sustainable catalysts for addressing dye pollution. This study contributes to the advancement of nanocatalytic processes for environmental remediation, underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary research in developing effective strategies for mitigating pollutant-induced ecological damage.