MICROWAVE ASSISTED BIOSYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES BY AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF LEAVES

*Vidya V. G. and Salma P. P.

ABSTRACT

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles have fascinated much consideration in modern time because of cost effective and environment friendly synthesis. The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Njavara (Plectranthus amboinicus), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Moringa (Moringa oleifera) as capping and reducing agent by microwave irradiation from 3mM AgNO3 solution has been done. On mixing leaf extract to silver salt solution in ratio 1:4 the colour changed from colourless to yellowish brown which partially confirmed the degradation of silver ions to silver nanoparticles. In present study the effect of microwave irradiation, interaction time on the morphology and size of silver nanoparticles is investigated. The synthesised nanoparticles were characterised by using IR, UV-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nanoparticles range from 10-20nm in size with nearly spherical shape were produced. These silver nanoparticles have proven to be stable for more than 3 months.

Keywords: Green synthesis, silver nanoparticles, microwave irradiation, Plectranthus amboinicus, Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera, TEM, XRD.