Green synthetic of iron nanoparticles from plants

Abstract

In this study, iron nanoparticles (Fe NPs) were synthesized from Syzygium nervosum leaves, green tea leaves, and guava leaves. The aim of this study is to utilize polyphenols from leaf extract to stabilize Fe(0), replacing toxic chemicals such as NaBH₄, thereby reducing environmental pollution. The polyphenols in the leaf extracts acted as both reducing agents and stabilizers for the Fe NPs. Modern techniques, including SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, and EDX, were employed. Results showed that S. nervosum leaves synthesized Fe NPs with sizes ranging from 40 to 60 nm, while green tea and guava leaves produced particles larger than 100 nm. The appearance of the characteristic X-ray diffraction peak of zero-valent iron at 47.21° and 61.75° indicates the significant potential of S. nervosum leaf extract for the complete reduction of ferric ions. The XRD and FTIR spectra indicated that the polyphenols (peaks at 1614.04 cm⁻¹ (C=C), 1572.89 cm⁻¹ and 1415.28 cm⁻¹ (C-C), 701.50 cm⁻¹ and 908.02 cm⁻¹ (aromatic C-H), and 3289.21 cm⁻¹ (O-H)) in S. nervosum leaf extracts act as protective agents, enhancing the stability of Fe NPs [603.69 cm⁻¹ (Fe-O)] suggests that the Fe NPs are coated with polyphenols). Keywords: Green materials, green tea leaves, guava leaves, iron nanoparticles, Syzygium nervosum leaves