Plant-mediated biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles by leaf extracts of Lasienthra africanum and a study of the influence of kinetic parameters

Abstract

Lasienthra africanum (LA) leaf extract was employed for nano-silver synthesis. The reducing effect of the plant extract was investigated at different times, pH, temperatures and concentrations. The effect of various kinetic parameters was studied using UV-vis spectroscopy. Blue-shifted surface plasmon bands indicating smaller sized nanoparticles were obtained at neutral pH (6.8-7.0), temperature of 65°C and concentration ratio of 1:10 (leaf extract: AgNO3) with increasing reaction times under the reaction conditions. The kinetics of the reaction followed pseudo-first- and -second-order rate equations, and was thermodynamically favoured at higher time. Spherically shaped nanoparticles were obtained at different reaction conditions.