PARTHENIUM MEDIATED SYNTHESIS OF ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES AND ITS CHARACTERIZATION

Objective: To biosynthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles by using parthenium hysterophorous plant extract as a reducing agent and its characterization by spectroscopic techniques.Methods: A novel method was developed to prepare zinc oxide nanoparticles by using zinc nitrate as a precursor and biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles was mediated by parthenium hysterophorous plant extract without the aid of external energy (high pressure and temperature). This new method involves simple techniques such as centrifugation, filtration, and stirring. Zinc oxide nanoparticles formation was confirmed by analytical techniques such as UV-Visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis.Results: Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by using parthenium hysterophorous plant extract as a reducing agent. The XRD measurement showed that zinc oxide nanoparticles possess a typical hexagonal structure and the crystallite size of the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles was found to be 32 nm calculated by scherrer's formula. The SEM images show agglomeration of zinc oxide nanoparticles that are spherical clusters. The maximum absorbance (380 nm) of UV-Visible spectroscopy further confirmed synthesized nanoparticles are zinc oxide. The Raman spectra show both E2 mode and E1 mode, which indicates that the prepared zinc oxide nanoparticles possess crystalline nature with hexagonal wurtzite structure.Conclusion: A method was established to prepare zinc oxide nanoparticles with parthenium hysterophorous plant extract which is a novel approach without the aid of external energy (high pressure and temperature), and formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles was confirmed by spectroscopic techniques. This method can be used in pharmaceutical industry for the synthesis of an antimicrobial agent

Not Available

Not AvailableBiofuels are a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to existing transportation fuels. Currently a combination of chemical and enzymatic degradation of lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars has been pursued despite economic challenges. In this study, we have critically investigated individual and synergistic combination of Asperigillus oryzae (Ahlburg) E. Cohn. and Pycnoporus sanguineus (L.) Murrill for production of cellulases from groundnut shell (GNS) using solid state fermentation (SSF). Since these combinations of innovative co-fungal systems mimic nature-inspired bioconversion, we anticipate optimum ligno-cellulolytic enzymes production with the right mix of appropriate enzymes. We have evaluated and selected fungal cultures showing rapid radial growth using ImageJ software, followed by SSF studies. SSF of GNS hydrolysate was carried out at room temperature in stationary flasks. Under co-culture conditions, maximum enzyme hydrolysis was observed with cellulase release on the 4th day at 112.4 FPU/ml, endo-glucanase on the 6th day at 174.8 IU/ml and β-glucosidase on the 10th day at 75.7 IU/ml. Spectral and thermal characterization combined with imaging techniques revealed a reduction in the rigidity of the hydrolysate, enabled novel understanding of the effect of fungal growth on biomass and has opened the door for economic bioethanol production with the use of microbes-fortified biomass.Not Availabl