Potential of plant mediated biosynthesis of iron nanoparticles and their application in dye degradation process

ABSTRACT

In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as cutting-edge technology with multifarious applications in a wide array of fields. Green synthesis of iron nanoparticles (FeNP) are an upcoming cost effective and eco-friendly technique and recently gained significant importance. In the present study, green FeNPs were prepared using leaf litter which is one of the major seasonal waste contributors in urban built-up areas. Shedding trees during winter months (January – March) were selected. Most abundant trees were Pongamia pinnata (Indian beech), Morus alba (mulberry), Prosopis juliflora (mesquite) and Kigelia africana (sausage tree). Synthesized FeNPs were further used for degrading two commercial dyes, eosin yellow and fuchsin basic, via Fenton’s mechanism. The study showed that the prepared nanoparticles were of iron oxides, but also reported presence of polyphenols as a capping agent. Dye degradation efficiency of nanoparticles synthesized by P. pinnata leaf litter was recorded to be highest, whereas the efficiency of nanoparticles synthesized by K. africana leaf litter was lowest. Chances of iron leaching during dye degradation process was also tested and observed that Fe was present in treated water below the standard guidelines. Thus, FeNPs can serve as a low-cost solution to remediate water pollutants with a green approach. Implications: Nanoparticles prepared in the study were showed as a promising adsorbent and demonstrating high surface area and well-developed porosity. The prepared adsorbent will have a great impact on wastewater treatment technology and possible applications at a large scale. There are several applications of nanoparticles in pollution remediation and at the same time it can solve solid waste issues as it required to prepare nanoparticles. One of the major applications at policy level can be water pollution remediation which is urgently needed.

Acknowledgment

The authors deeply acknowledge the University Grant Commission (UGC) and Department of Environmental Studies for providing financial support for the study. Also, for the advance instrumentation analysis the authors show deep gratitude to the University Science Instrumentation Centre, University of Delhi.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary materials.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by Faculty Research Proposal (FRP), Institution of Eminence (IoE), University of Delhi, Delhi, India. 

Notes on contributors

Reena Jain

Reena Jain, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry Hindu College, University of Delhi has taught Inorganic Chemistry for over 24 years and environmental chemistry to master’s degree students at the Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi for the past 10 years. She has a Ph.D. from the Chemistry Department, Delhi University and the Prof. K.N. Johri Memorial Gold Medal from the University of Delhi. Her research interest is primarily focused on organometallic chemistry, green chemistry, nanochemistry and environmental chemistry. She has almost a dozen of papers to her credit in renowned national and international journals, has authored five books in chemistry for the senior secondary students, edited a book for Indian adaptation, and developed a lot of e-material. Her contributions in several reputed projects include, National Science Digital Library – a project of NISCAIR, CSIR, SAKSHAT, i-CBSE, and UDAAN. She has given talks in her field of inorganic chemistry and environment chemistry at more than 30 workshops, conferences, and faculty development programs, presented papers in several iational and international conferences, and has organized more than 15 workshops/conferences.

Guncha Sharma

Guncha Sharma, Ph.D. research scholar in the Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi graduated from Kirori mal College, University of Delhi and postgrad. from Gautam Buddha University. During her master's she was conferred with the Vice Chancellor Gold medal by Gautam Buddha University.

Shailender Kumar

Shailender Kumar is assistant professor and co-founder of Centre for Environmental Studies and Disaster Management, Miranda House, University of Delhi and associated with the National Institute of Disaster Management, Govt of India for research on Solid waste management in postdisaster scenarios. He has worked in the field of environmental pollution monitoring and assessment for the last seven years as junior research fellow, senior research fellow at University of Delhi, and also worked at the Department of Environmental Sciences at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He taught environmental science as a compulsory subject in different prestigious colleges of Delhi University His Industrial training was at the coal-based power plants of North Delhi Power Corporation, Delhi. He was a member of the organizing team in environmental pollution related seminars and workshops. His research focused on qualitative and quantitative water, soil and air analysis along with geospatial assessment and mapping of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) distribution with special emphasis on mercury exposure. His research outlined PTEs including suspected carcinogens present in threatening concentrations in NCT, Delhi. He has published in several national and international reputed journals.

Anita Dubey

Anita Dubey holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, India and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. program at Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India. Her research area includes the removal of hazardous heavy metals by nanomaterials.

Nikita Gakhar

Nikita Gakhar holds a B.Sc. in Zoology (Hons) from Ramjas College, University of Delhi and an M.Sc. in Environmental Studies from the Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi. Her area of interest is use of green chemistry in tackling water pollution related problems.

Chirashree Ghosh

Chirashree Ghosh holds a Ph.D. in Ecotoxicology and followed this with postdoctoral research at the University of Wageningen, the Netherlands, in the area of Wastewater Management using nonconventional method. In 2000, she received a prestigious DAAD fellowship (Germany) and attended a graduate program on water technology at the University of Applied Sciences, Suderburg, Germany. Returning home she initiated major research in the area of Environment Pollution & Health and in 2003, joined the faculty in the Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi. She wasproject coordinator of a number of sponsored research projects, one of her major contributions was preparation of a carbon footprint map of Delhi, which was presented at the Copenhagen summit, 2009 by state Chief Secretary. She collaborated in the national air quality monitoring program “SAFAR” since the Commonwealth Games, 2010 and is presently sharing data with the Pollution Control Board and National Green tribunal as a national database. In 2011 her Water footprint map was presented as a case study from Asia Pacific region by the international climate change work group at Johannesburg organized by IDRC, Canada. She was selected as a panel speaker by the SEG women’s network committee in 2019 at San Antonio, Texas. A teacher and researcher, she trys to mobilize the community on environmental issues and sensitizing how simple changes can help attain better quality of health.