Publications

Abstract : Nowadays 'green' synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), utilizing organic compounds as a reducing and stabilizing agents (e.g. plant extracts, biodegradable polymers), is gaining considerable attention. This approach of nanoparticle synthesis gives the opportunity to avoid often expensive and harmful substances for the environment. In this paper, Au NPs were synthesized, for the first time, by two natural materials - tarragon plant extract and PHB-chitosan polymer conjugate. The analysis of gold nanoparticles was provided by Vis spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, the stability of Au NPs was determined by zeta potential analysis whereas their size by differential centrifugal sedimentation (DCS) technique. It was found that the mean size of Au NPs was 7 and 30 nm for the particles reduced with PHB-chitosan polymer conjugate and tarragon plant extract, respectively. Furthermore, the catalytic properties of thus synthesized nanoparticles were compared toward 4-nitrophenol reduction. It was determined that at the optimal conditions the pseudo first-order kinetic rate constant was 0.74 and 0.29 min-1 for the processes involving Au NPs synthesized by PHB-chitosan polymer conjugate and tarragon plant extract, respectively.