Innovative Creation of Nano-Catalyst for Antibiotic Degradation

According to a press release by the University of Birjand  Public Relations and Information Department, the nano-catalyst consisting of cadmium oxide nanoparticles, copper oxide, and natural bentonite, employing the aqueous extract of the Comfrey plant, was patented by Dr. Ahmad Ariafar, a faculty member at Birjand University, along with Dr. Moones Honarmand, a faculty member at Birjand University of Technology, and Mr. Majid Mojorreh, a master's student in environmental mining engineering at Birjand University.

Due to human activities and the continuous development of various industries, the presence of harmful organic pollutants in surface waters has been on the rise in recent years. Consequently, finding an environmentally friendly method for removing these pollutants is imperative. In this patent, a unique nano-composite was prepared for the first time by incorporating copper and cadmium oxide semiconductors into bentonite, using the green and environmentally compatible extract of the Comfrey plant. This process avoided toxic solvents and chemical stabilizers and exclusively utilized metal salts, natural bentonite, and the Comfrey plant extract. The Comfrey plant extract acted as a natural reductant and stabilizer in the production of this nano-catalyst. The synthesized nano-catalyst was utilized for the photodegradation of the antibiotic agent levofloxacin under sunlight radiation, yielding highly positive results. Furthermore, this nano-catalyst can serve as an effective and cost-efficient solution for treating wastewater, contributing to addressing the water crisis in the country.

South Khorasan Province is the fifth-largest mining province in the country, boasting abundant mineral resources. Bentonite, one of the world's most commonly used minerals, is found in significant quantities within this province. Unfortunately, it is often exported without significant processing. The invention contributes to the value addition of this mineral by producing a nano-composite based on South Khorasan's bentonite, thereby curbing its raw sales. Preventing the raw sale of bentonite leads to value generation, job creation, self-sufficiency, and the growth of industries linked to this mineral.

This nano-catalyst was officially registered on May 23, 2023, under registration number 109291 by the Intellectual Property Office and the Copyright Office of the National Organization for Registration of Deeds and Properties.

It's worth noting that this patent is a result of a master's thesis conducted by Mr. Majid Mojorreh, a student of environmental mining engineering. The research was supervised by Dr. Ahmad Ariafar, the head of the mining engineering department, and Dr. Moones Honarmand, an associate professor in the chemical engineering department at Birjand University of Technology. Additionally, this research has resulted in one publication in JCR-indexed journals and one publication in Scopus-indexed journals.