480DEGRADATION OF ATRAZINE USING COPPER NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESISED FROM THE LEAF EXTRACT OF Zea maysSynthetic chemical herbicides occupy predominant position in control strategies. These hazardous chemicals exert unwarranted toxicity and lethal effects on nontarget organisms, soil health and cause adverse environmental effect. Plant extracts mediated nanoparticles attributes could lead to development of new and improved herbicide degradation methods that are economical and safe for nontarget organisms and are ecofriendly. In the current study, effective degradation of chemical herbicide effect of plant synthesized copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using an extract of Zea mays against atrazine was investigated. An attractive possibility of green nanotechnology is to use plant extracts in the synthesis of nanocopper especially CuNPs. The formation of copper nanoparticles using extract of Zea mays was viewed by the color change from dark brown to sea green color. By using UV-Visible spectrum the maximum absorbance peak for Zea mays was seen at 580nm respectively. In FTIR analysis confirmed that the reduction of Cu ions to copper nanoparticles is due to the reduction by capping material of plant extract. Responsible peak appear with the copper nanoparticle at 1690 and 1760 cm-1. The corresponding peaks to be presence of responsible compounds to produce nanoparticles in the reaction mixture. The SEM image showed the particle-like Cu clusters, which exhibit good uniformity and average diameter is about 40nm. The XRD patterns showed the metallic particles are anatase crystalline in nature and the size was ranging from 14-16nm. In EDAX spectra were recorded from the synthesized copper nanoparticles and the optical absorption peak was observed approximately at 1.6Kev, which was typical metallic Cu nanocrystalline absorption due to the surface plasmon resonance. The degradation of Atrazine was increased using the 30 mg of CuNPs treated with 10mg of Atrazine in 48 hours incubation.ramidster@gmail.comResearch652016Herbicides,ecofriendly,degradationSriram T,Pandidurai V,Kuberan TResearch Scholar, Department of Biotechnology, Research and Development centre, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641 014, Tamilnadu, India,Asst. Professor, Department of Botany, Govt. Arts College, Melur 625 106, Madurai, Tamilnadu, India,UPASI Tea Research Foundation, Regional centre, Coonoor 643 101, Tamilnadu, India