Biogenic Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Palm Oil Mill Effluent and its Antioxidant Potential

Phenolic compounds are highly effective in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNP), providing a sustainable and eco-friendly method for nanoparticle production. This paper reports a sustainable approach for the biosynthesis of AgNP using Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) with their antioxidant potential. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis of POME identified six key phenolic compounds: gallic acid, ascorbic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, myricetin, and coumaric acid. These compounds facilitate the reduction of Ag+ to Ag-0, acting as both reducing and stabilizing agents in the synthesis process. POME-AgNPs were characterized using visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The visible spectrum showed a distinct peak at 450 nm, indicating successful AgNP formation. FTIR analysis revealed diminished C = O stretching vibrations at 3761 and 1744 cm(-1), corresponding to carbonyl groups in raw POME. XRD confirmed the crystalline structure of the nanoparticles, with reflections corresponding to (110), (111), (200), (220), (222), and (311) planes. Morphological analysis showed spherical POME-AgNP with an average size of 21 nm. Antioxidant assays, including DPPH and FRAP, demonstrated significant antioxidant activity (p < 0.05) of POME-AgNP compared to controls. These results highlight the potential of POME as a sustainable resource for green nanotechnology, enabling the eco-friendly production of nanoparticles with valuable antioxidant properties.