Microbiological synthesis of zinc sulfide nanoparticles using Desulfovibrio desulfuricans

ABSTRACT

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles were synthesized in a single-step process using Desulfovibrio desulfuricans at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The kinetics of ZnS biosynthesis and the cellular distribution of Zn were also studied by measuring the Zn²⁺ and ZnS concentrations. The microstructure of the ZnS nanoparticles was characterized by means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The particles were essentially granular, and the particle size ranged from approximately 5 to 8 nm. The total UV–Vis spectrum of the product migrated toward blue wavelengths compared with the ultraviolet absorption wavelength of the ZnS bulk material. The yield of ZnS nanoparticles was 97.8% after 96 h. A mechanistic experiment showed that ZnS nanoparticles were produced inside the cells and released into the solution. In the cells, Zn was the most highly concentrated in the membrane, followed by the cell wall and cytoplasm.

KEYWORDS:

• Zinc sulfide
• nanoparticles
• microbial method
• Desulfovibrio desulfuricans

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the services provided by the Sophisticated Analytical Instrumentation Facility, Institute of Coal Chemistry, CAS, Taiyuan, China, and Shanxi Medical University.

Additional information

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (31200049), Natural Science Foundation for Young Scientists of Shanxi Province, China (2012011009-1).