Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13)
Green synthesis of silver and zinc nanoparticles for biological and environmental applications B.S Molapoa, A.O Adenijia Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, National University of Lesotho. P.O. 180, Roma, Lesotho. E-mail: molaposeshophe0@gmail.com Green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts offers an exciting and eco-friendly approach to nanotechnology. This study explores the green synthesis of silver and zinc nanoparticles using plant extracts as reducing agents for potential biological and environmental applications. In this work, aqueous solutions of silver nitrate and zinc nitrate were treated with aqueous extracts from Helicrysum caespititium and Rumnus prinoides leaves, roots and stems, which act as both reducing agents and stabilizers. The synthesis process was optimized for temperature, salt solution concentration, ratio of extract to salt solution and reaction time. Characterization of the nanoparticles was performed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Thermogravimetric analyser and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Optimization results indicate that increase in temperature and reaction time made the synthesis better and the ratio of 1:4 gave better results than 1:9. Synthesis was good at 5 Mm salt concentration for H. caespititium and 2.5 Mm for R. prinoides . Biological analyses show that the nanoparticles exhibited significant antibacterial activities. Additionally, the nanoparticles demonstrated potential for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater and photo-degradation of dyes. Conclusively, this method of nanoparticle synthesis has proven to be a sustainable and cost-effective, with promising applications in medicine and environmental remediation. Key words: Green synthesis, biological, environmental
P60
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