# Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles UsingSesbania grandiflora Leaf Extract as Reducing Agent

Authors: Sorna Prema Rajendran; Kandasamy Sengodan
Journal: Journal of Nanoscience
 (2017)

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## Abstract

The objectives of this present study are to synthesize iron oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles from different concentrations ofSesbania grandiflora leaf extract (5–20%) using zinc nitrate and ferrous chloride as precursor materials and synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectrometer, FTIR, X-ray diffraction, and SEM. The results showed that synthesized zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles exhibited UV-visible absorption peaks at 235 nm and 220 nm, respectively, which indicated that both nanoparticles were photosensitive and the XRD study confirmed that both nanoparticles were crystalline in nature. In addition, FTIR was also used to analyze the various functional groups present in the synthesized nanoparticles. The SEM results reveal that zinc oxide nanoparticles were spherical in shape and having the particle size range of 15 to 35 nm whereas the iron oxide nanoparticles were nonspherical in shape with the size range of 25 to 60 nm. Application of synthesized nanoparticle on seafood effluent treatment was studied.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

In the last decade biosynthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles has received increasing attention due to their potential properties such as optical, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, and chemical properties and hence has incredible applications in the field of physics, chemistry, medicine, biology, agriculture, food processing, and so forth [1]. Wide varieties of methods have been reported for synthesis of zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles such as coprecipitation technique [2], thermal decomposition methods [3], hydrothermal technique [4], sol gel method [5], and electrochemical methods [6]. However these methods are energy consuming, using hazardous solvents and expensive reagents in their preparation [7, 8]; therefore the rising needs to develop eco-friendly green method for nanoparticle preparation [9]. Recently plant mediated green synthesis of different nanoparticles from various plants such asCassia alata[10],Camellia sinensis [11],Mangifera indica[12],Azadirachta indica [13],Syzygium cumini[14], andOcimum basilicum[15] has been reported.Sesbania grandiflorabelongs to the family of Fabaceae and commonly known as agati in Tamil and humming bird tree in English, leaf of the plant consumed as a green leaf vegetable in India. All the parts of plant are widely used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to treat the broad spectrum of disease including tumor, liver disorder, constipation, intestine inflammation, urinary infection, and intestine inflammation [16]. The leaves are good source of phytochemicals such as phenolic acids, polyphenol, and flavanoid [17].An extensive literature survey shows that there is no research report available for synthesis of zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticle using commercially availableSesbania grandiflora leaf extract, so that the present study discusses the plant mediated green synthesis of zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles usingSesbania grandiflora leaf extract which is used as a reducing agent to convert the precursors into nanoparticles. In addition to that the synthesized nanoparticles are characterized with the aid of UV-visible spectrometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer, and scanning electron microscope.


## 2. Materials and Methods

### 2.1. Raw Material

Zinc nitrate and ferrous chloride were purchased from, Hi Media, India.Sesbania grandiflora leaves were obtained from the local market near Perundurai, Tamil Nadu, India. All the chemicals used in this study were analytical grade.


### 2.2. Preparation of Leaf Extract

The fresh leaves were washed with running tap water in order to remove the impurities adhering on the surface of the leaves. Then the leaves gently were wiped by the filter paper, known amount of leaves (5–20 g) was added to 250 ml beaker, and 100 ml distilled water was added and kept at 60°C in a temperature controlled hot plate until the color of the water was turned to green color. Then the extract was cooled at room temperature, filtered (Whatman number 1 filter paper), and stored for further experimental analysis.


### 2.3. Preparation of Nanoparticles

A known amount of (50 ml) filtered leaf extract of different concentrations was taken in the beakers and heated at 60°C in a temperature controlled hot plate. Then 5 g of precursor (zinc nitrate for zinc oxide nanoparticles and ferrous chloride for iron oxide nanoparticles) was added to the heated leaf extract and stirred well using a glass rod until the mixture was turned to paste form (yellow color: zinc oxide nanoparticle, black color: iron oxide). The paste was collected carefully in ceramic crucibles and kept in a muffle furnace at 500°C for 2 h in order to remove the organic impurities present in the paste. After 2 h, the synthesized nanoparticles present in the crucible were taken and stored in an airtight container for future experimental work.


### 2.4. Characterization of Nanoparticles

The characterization of the synthesized nanoparticles from different concentrations ofSesbania grandiflora leaf extracts using precursors (zinc nitrate and ferrous chloride) was characterized using UV-visible spectrometer, FTIR, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Optical properties of synthesized nanoparticles were examined using double beam UV-visible spectrometer (Elico spectral treats version 2.2) with a spectral range of 190–400 nm. Functional groups present in the synthesized nanoparticles were found by FTIR spectrometer (Shimadzu) at a region of 4000 cm−1 to 400 cm−1 using KBr pellet method with a resolution of 4 cm−1. X-ray diffraction pattern was obtained from Seifert XRD 3003 diffractometer having the Cu-Kα radiation source which was used to confirm the presence of green synthesized nanoparticles. The samples were scanned in the 2θ ranges of 10 to 70°C with the scan rate of 0.04°/sec and the average particle size was also to be calculated from the diffractogram using Debye-Scherrer’s formula [18]. The structural morphology of prepared nanoparticles was carried out by JSM 6360 scanning electron microscope with an accelerating voltage between 10 and 20 KV under the vacuum condition.


## 2.1. Raw Material

Zinc nitrate and ferrous chloride were purchased from, Hi Media, India.Sesbania grandiflora leaves were obtained from the local market near Perundurai, Tamil Nadu, India. All the chemicals used in this study were analytical grade.


## 2.2. Preparation of Leaf Extract

The fresh leaves were washed with running tap water in order to remove the impurities adhering on the surface of the leaves. Then the leaves gently were wiped by the filter paper, known amount of leaves (5–20 g) was added to 250 ml beaker, and 100 ml distilled water was added and kept at 60°C in a temperature controlled hot plate until the color of the water was turned to green color. Then the extract was cooled at room temperature, filtered (Whatman number 1 filter paper), and stored for further experimental analysis.


## 2.3. Preparation of Nanoparticles

A known amount of (50 ml) filtered leaf extract of different concentrations was taken in the beakers and heated at 60°C in a temperature controlled hot plate. Then 5 g of precursor (zinc nitrate for zinc oxide nanoparticles and ferrous chloride for iron oxide nanoparticles) was added to the heated leaf extract and stirred well using a glass rod until the mixture was turned to paste form (yellow color: zinc oxide nanoparticle, black color: iron oxide). The paste was collected carefully in ceramic crucibles and kept in a muffle furnace at 500°C for 2 h in order to remove the organic impurities present in the paste. After 2 h, the synthesized nanoparticles present in the crucible were taken and stored in an airtight container for future experimental work.


## 2.4. Characterization of Nanoparticles

The characterization of the synthesized nanoparticles from different concentrations ofSesbania grandiflora leaf extracts using precursors (zinc nitrate and ferrous chloride) was characterized using UV-visible spectrometer, FTIR, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Optical properties of synthesized nanoparticles were examined using double beam UV-visible spectrometer (Elico spectral treats version 2.2) with a spectral range of 190–400 nm. Functional groups present in the synthesized nanoparticles were found by FTIR spectrometer (Shimadzu) at a region of 4000 cm−1 to 400 cm−1 using KBr pellet method with a resolution of 4 cm−1. X-ray diffraction pattern was obtained from Seifert XRD 3003 diffractometer having the Cu-Kα radiation source which was used to confirm the presence of green synthesized nanoparticles. The samples were scanned in the 2θ ranges of 10 to 70°C with the scan rate of 0.04°/sec and the average particle size was also to be calculated from the diffractogram using Debye-Scherrer’s formula [18]. The structural morphology of prepared nanoparticles was carried out by JSM 6360 scanning electron microscope with an accelerating voltage between 10 and 20 KV under the vacuum condition.


## 3. Results and Discussions

### 3.1. UV-Visible Spectroscopy

Nanoparticles were prepared using different leaf extract concentrations (5–20%), characterized using UV-visible spectrometer, and the results were shown in Figures1 and 2. From the results, it was observed that maximum absorption peak was found at 235 nm for zinc oxide nanoparticles and 220 nm for iron oxide nanoparticles, respectively. This could be due to the excitation of nanoparticles from ground state to excited state [8]. The increasing concentration of leaf extract enhanced the phytochemical content of the extract and it can reduce the precursor quickly which leads to increasing the formation of nanoparticles rapidly and enhancing the absorbance value [19].Figure 1
UV-visible spectrum for ZnO nanoparticles.Figure 2
UV-visible spectrum for Fe3O4 nanoparticles.Actual band gap wavelength of zinc oxide and iron oxide was 388 nm and 370 nm, respectively, which was higher than 235 nm and 220 nm (Figures1 and 2) which may be due to agglomeration and settling of nanoparticles in a cuvette which cause decreasing the absorption of radiation. Similar kind of result was found by [20] synthesizing the zinc oxide nanoparticles by micro emulsion method.From the UV-visible spectrometer analysis concluded that zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles had an intense absorbance at ~250 nm which indicates that the synthesized particles were photosensitive in UV region [21].


### 3.2. FTIR Spectrometer

The synthesized iron and zinc oxide nanoparticles from leaf extract (20%) were analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy technique in order to find out the functional groups present in the particles. Bandwidth of 1500–600 cm−1 exhibited the fingerprint region of zinc oxide nanoparticles [22]. Strong peak observed at the frequency of 1650 cm−1 indicates the N-H bending and weak peaks were found at 1508 cm−1 and 1641 cm−1 (Figure 3) assigned to symmetric and asymmetric vibration of C=O [23]. The broad peak around 3400 cm−1 showed the OH stretching bond vibration which was due to the water adsorption on the surface of zinc oxide nanoparticles [24] while the peak at 440 cm−1 (Figure 3) was attributed to the Zn-O stretching vibration.Figure 3
FTIR spectrum for zinc oxide nanoparticles.Various compounds associated with iron oxide nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR spectrum and it was illustrated in Figure4. The peaks at 1700 cm−1 and 1850 cm−1 exhibited the C=O stretching vibrations [25] and the strong peak at 1388 indicated the aromatic amine (C-N) stretching and the medium peak at 915 cm−1 assigned to carboxylic acid (O-H) bending vibrations. The peak was found at a frequency of 669 cm−1 due to Fe-O bond vibration [26]. The peaks at 1649 cm−1 and 1039 cm−1 were corresponding to the >C=O asymmetric stretching and COO− symmetric stretching [27].Figure 4
FTIR spectrum for Fe3O4 nanoparticles.


### 3.3. X-Ray Diffraction

Synthesized zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles from 20% leaf extract concentration were characterized using Cu-Kα X-ray diffractometer for confirming the presence of nanoparticles and analyzing its structure which was shown in Figures 5 and 6, respectively. From the result (Figure 5) the peaks were identified at 31.77°, 34.44°, 36.28°, 47.60°, 56.52°, 62.88°, and 67.96°. These peaks were in well agreement with the literature report of [20, 28] and also well consistent with the JCPDS file card number 01-075-0576 thus showing the synthesized nanoparticles were identical to hexagonal phase of zinc oxide [29].Figure 5
XRD pattern of zinc oxide nanoparticles.Figure 6
XRD pattern of Fe3O4 nanoparticles.Similarly the X-ray diffraction pattern of iron oxide nanoparticles was illustrated in Figure6. Peaks were found in a diffractogram at an angle of 18.44°, 19.60°, 23.84°, 33.20°, 35.64°, 40.96°, 49.44°, 54°, and 62.60° which indicated that the synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles were crystalline phase and also result was well matched with the JCPDS card number 19-0629 [30]. Similar kinds of results have been found in green synthesis of manetite nanoparticle [31].


### 3.4. Scanning Electron Microscope

SEM analysis was carried out to find the surface morphology of zinc oxide and iron nanoparticles prepared from 20% leaf extract concentration using JSM-6360 scanning electron microscope at different magnification levels and results were shown in Figures7 and 8, respectively. The micrographs (Figures 7 and 8) showed that the network formation occurred at the zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles. It was clearly indicated that the agglomeration had been taken place. From the images it was confirmed that the synthesized zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles were in well agreement with the result obtained from XRD. Moreover the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles had a spherical shape and iron oxide nanoparticles were nonspherical shapes with rough surface.Figure 7
SEM image of zinc oxide nanoparticles.Figure 8
SEM image of Fe3O4 nanoparticles.


## 3.1. UV-Visible Spectroscopy

Nanoparticles were prepared using different leaf extract concentrations (5–20%), characterized using UV-visible spectrometer, and the results were shown in Figures1 and 2. From the results, it was observed that maximum absorption peak was found at 235 nm for zinc oxide nanoparticles and 220 nm for iron oxide nanoparticles, respectively. This could be due to the excitation of nanoparticles from ground state to excited state [8]. The increasing concentration of leaf extract enhanced the phytochemical content of the extract and it can reduce the precursor quickly which leads to increasing the formation of nanoparticles rapidly and enhancing the absorbance value [19].Figure 1
UV-visible spectrum for ZnO nanoparticles.Figure 2
UV-visible spectrum for Fe3O4 nanoparticles.Actual band gap wavelength of zinc oxide and iron oxide was 388 nm and 370 nm, respectively, which was higher than 235 nm and 220 nm (Figures1 and 2) which may be due to agglomeration and settling of nanoparticles in a cuvette which cause decreasing the absorption of radiation. Similar kind of result was found by [20] synthesizing the zinc oxide nanoparticles by micro emulsion method.From the UV-visible spectrometer analysis concluded that zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles had an intense absorbance at ~250 nm which indicates that the synthesized particles were photosensitive in UV region [21].


## 3.2. FTIR Spectrometer

The synthesized iron and zinc oxide nanoparticles from leaf extract (20%) were analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy technique in order to find out the functional groups present in the particles. Bandwidth of 1500–600 cm−1 exhibited the fingerprint region of zinc oxide nanoparticles [22]. Strong peak observed at the frequency of 1650 cm−1 indicates the N-H bending and weak peaks were found at 1508 cm−1 and 1641 cm−1 (Figure 3) assigned to symmetric and asymmetric vibration of C=O [23]. The broad peak around 3400 cm−1 showed the OH stretching bond vibration which was due to the water adsorption on the surface of zinc oxide nanoparticles [24] while the peak at 440 cm−1 (Figure 3) was attributed to the Zn-O stretching vibration.Figure 3
FTIR spectrum for zinc oxide nanoparticles.Various compounds associated with iron oxide nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR spectrum and it was illustrated in Figure4. The peaks at 1700 cm−1 and 1850 cm−1 exhibited the C=O stretching vibrations [25] and the strong peak at 1388 indicated the aromatic amine (C-N) stretching and the medium peak at 915 cm−1 assigned to carboxylic acid (O-H) bending vibrations. The peak was found at a frequency of 669 cm−1 due to Fe-O bond vibration [26]. The peaks at 1649 cm−1 and 1039 cm−1 were corresponding to the >C=O asymmetric stretching and COO− symmetric stretching [27].Figure 4
FTIR spectrum for Fe3O4 nanoparticles.


## 3.3. X-Ray Diffraction

Synthesized zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles from 20% leaf extract concentration were characterized using Cu-Kα X-ray diffractometer for confirming the presence of nanoparticles and analyzing its structure which was shown in Figures 5 and 6, respectively. From the result (Figure 5) the peaks were identified at 31.77°, 34.44°, 36.28°, 47.60°, 56.52°, 62.88°, and 67.96°. These peaks were in well agreement with the literature report of [20, 28] and also well consistent with the JCPDS file card number 01-075-0576 thus showing the synthesized nanoparticles were identical to hexagonal phase of zinc oxide [29].Figure 5
XRD pattern of zinc oxide nanoparticles.Figure 6
XRD pattern of Fe3O4 nanoparticles.Similarly the X-ray diffraction pattern of iron oxide nanoparticles was illustrated in Figure6. Peaks were found in a diffractogram at an angle of 18.44°, 19.60°, 23.84°, 33.20°, 35.64°, 40.96°, 49.44°, 54°, and 62.60° which indicated that the synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles were crystalline phase and also result was well matched with the JCPDS card number 19-0629 [30]. Similar kinds of results have been found in green synthesis of manetite nanoparticle [31].


## 3.4. Scanning Electron Microscope

SEM analysis was carried out to find the surface morphology of zinc oxide and iron nanoparticles prepared from 20% leaf extract concentration using JSM-6360 scanning electron microscope at different magnification levels and results were shown in Figures7 and 8, respectively. The micrographs (Figures 7 and 8) showed that the network formation occurred at the zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles. It was clearly indicated that the agglomeration had been taken place. From the images it was confirmed that the synthesized zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles were in well agreement with the result obtained from XRD. Moreover the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles had a spherical shape and iron oxide nanoparticles were nonspherical shapes with rough surface.Figure 7
SEM image of zinc oxide nanoparticles.Figure 8
SEM image of Fe3O4 nanoparticles.


## 4. Application

Prepared zinc oxide and iron oxide nanocatalyst are excellent photocatalytic oxidation material used for treating industrial effluent [32, 33]. In the current research, it could be used to remove the organic pollutant present in the sea food industry effluent treatment. Initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) of sea food industry effluent is 912 ppm. Effluent was taken from an industry located at Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India, and stored at 4°C. 100 ml of effluent was taken in a photocatalytic reactor which is shown in Figure 9. A known quantity of photocatalytic material was added to the effluent after a particular treatment time; the effluent was taken and COD was measured.Figure 9
Photocatalytic reactor.Figure10 represents the effect of zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles on COD level. Initially the COD level was reduced gradually; it was due to production of more hydroxyl radical which degrades organic pollutant; after certain dosage COD level starts to increase; it might be due to opaqueness created by nanoparticles which prevent the light penetration that leads to lower production of hydroxyl radical.Figure 10
Effect of zinc oxide and iron oxide on COD level.


## 5. Conclusion

Green synthesis of zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles usingSesbania grandiflora leaf extract provides an effective route for eco-friendly method of synthesis of nanoparticles. These materials seem to possess different morphology and structural properties and the SEM analysis showed that the aggregation and network formation of nanoparticles had been taking place. It was found that increasing the leaf extract concentration increases the rate of reduction and the reduction of precursor into the nanoparticles to be optimized at 20% leaf extract concentration. Both zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles could be used as a better source as a photocatalyst for COD removal.



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*Source: 8348507-2017-01-03.xml*