"Green" synthesis of metal nanoparticles with wastes of essential oil industry

Valorization and application of essential oil industry wastes for а “green” synthesis of metal nanoparticles is the objective of the project DN 17/22 funded by the National Scientific Fund – Bulgaria entitled "Valorization and application of essential oil industry wastes for “green” synthesis of metal nanoparticles”. The project is implemented by consortium of Bulgarian scientific organizations including University of Food Technologies – Plovdiv, Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Plovdiv and Institute of Optical Materials and Technologies – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia.

The data for the use of extracts from the waste materials for the "green" synthesis of metal nanoparticles showed another application of by-products of the essential-oil industry. Fifteen extracts (water and water-ethanolic) from wastes (obtained after different industrial processing) of: Rosa Damascena, Rosa Alba, Rosa Centifolia, Lavandula Angustifolia, Achillea Millefolium (yarrow), Matricaria Chamomilla, Salvia Officinalis and Melissa Officinalis (lemon balm) were investigated.

Implementation of the investigations has led to synthesis of silver (AgNPs), gold (AuNPs) and palladium nanoparticles. The synthesis was confirmed by Transmitting Electron Microscopy (TEM). The Figure bellow presents micrographs of AgNPs synthesized with extract of Achillea millefolium (a)) and Lavandula angustifolia (b)) wastes, representative SAED patterns (c)) and size distribution of the corresponding particles (d)) and (e)).

This work was supported by the project DN 17/22 from 12.12.2017 “Valorization and application of essential oil industry wastes for “green” synthesis of metal nanoparticles” funded by the National Science Fund (Ministry of Education and Science) of Bulgaria.