Comparative Analysis of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles Biosynthesized from Rubber Seed Shell and Rubber Leaf Extracts

Abstract

Plant-mediated methods are increasingly favored for synthesizing magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONPs) due to their cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and eco-friendly nature compared to chemical and physical approaches. In this study, the potential of plant-derived phytochemicals as bio-reducing and capping agents in the synthesis of MgONPs was explored. Specifically, MgONPs were successfully synthesized using an aqueous extract obtained from rubber seed shells (RSS) and rubber leaves (RL). To validate the obtained MgONPs, various characterization techniques including FTIR, DLS, XRD and SEM were employed. The FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of magnesium oxide. According to DLS analysis, the average particle size of MgONPs derived from rubber seed shells was determined to be 1199 nm, while those derived from rubber leaves exhibited an average size of 44.57 nm. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms a high level of crystallinity and validates the crystalline nature of both sets of synthesized nanoparticles. SEM examination revealed that the rubber seed shell-based MgONPs displayed irregular-shaped particles with a high degree of aggregation, whereas the MgONPs derived from rubber leaves exhibited a more uniform and spherical morphology. These findings highlight the efficacy of plant-mediated methods using rubber seed shells and rubber leaves extracts for synthesizing MgONPs. The characterization techniques employed in this study provided valuable insights into the structural properties of the nanoparticles. Such knowledge is crucial for further exploration and utilization of plant-mediated approaches in the synthesis of nanomaterials with desired sizes and morphologies, contributing to the development of cost-effective and environmentally friendly strategies in nanotechnology.