Green synthesis of iron oxide nanorods using Withania coagulans extract improved photocatalytic degradation and antimicrobial activity

Abstract

Present work compares the green synthesis of iron oxide nanorodes (NRs) using Withania coagulans and reduction precipitation based chemical method. UV/Vis confirmed the sharp peak of Iron oxide NRs synthesized by biologically and chemically on 294 and 278 nm respectively. XRD and SEM showed highly crystalline nature of NRs with average size 16 ± 2 nm using Withania extract and less crystalline with amorphous Nanostructure of 18 ± 2 nm by chemical method. FTIR analysis revealed the involvement of active bioreducing and stabilizing biomolecules in Withania coagulans extract for synthesis of NRs. Moreover, EDX analysis indicates 34.91% of Iron oxide formation in biological synthesis whereas 25.8% of iron oxide synthesis in chemical method. The degradation of safranin dye in the presence of Withania coagulans based NRs showed 30% more effectively than chemically synthesized Nanorods which were verified by the gradual decrease in the peak intensity at 553 nm and 550 nm respectively under solar irradiation. Furthermore, Withania coagulans based NRs showed effective Antibacterial activity against S.aureus and P. aeuroginosa as compared to NRs by chemical method. Finally, we conclude that green synthesized NRs are more effective and functionally more efficient than chemically prepared NRs. Therefore, our work will help the researchers to boost the synthesis of nanoparticles via biological at commercial level.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity; Iron oxide NRs; Photocatalytic; Withania coagulans.