Green Synthesis of Titanium dioxide Nanoparticles by utilizing Marchantia polymorpha and their Application in Methylene Blue Dye Removal

This research work involves the bio-mediated production of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) using a bio-precipitation approach and the whole plant extract of Marchantia polymorpha, popularly known as common liverwort. In this study TTIP (Titaniumisopropoxide) was used as precursor of titanium and the function of reduction and capping of NPs was done by whole plant extract. The extract stabilizes the form and size of TiO(2 )NPs along with their synthesis. The formation of TiO2 NPs was confirmed by using various characterization techniques that are Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Visible) spectroscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The UV-Visible analysis and energy band value confirms the synthesis of anatase type of TiO2 NPs. The XRD analysis also validates the formation of crystalline anatase phase of TiO(2 )NPs with crystallite size of 23 nm. FESEM analysis confirmed spherical shape of TiO(2 )NPs with average diameter of 28.6 nm. These biomediated TiO2 NPs were being utilized for the photocatalytic methylene blue dye degradation at different parameters like varied concentrations of dye, different amounts of TiO2 NPs and different pH. The optimum results were found to be at 5 ppm initial dye concentration, 40 mg catalyst, and at pH-6. The results indicated that these bio-mediated TiO(2 )NPs are suitable for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye.