Review of Green Methods of Iron Nanoparticles
Synthesis and Applications
Heba Mohamed Fahmy
1
&
Fatma Mahmoud Mohamed
1
&
Mariam Hisham Marzouq
1
&
Amira Bahaa El-Din Mustafa
1
&
Asmaa M. Alsoudi
1
&
Omnia Ashoor Ali
1
&
Maha A. Mohamed
1
&
Faten Ahmed Mahmoud
1
Published online: 16 March 2018
#
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018
Abstract
Green chemistry becomes an eye-catching topic of interest in the past few years because it is a comfortable, secure, inexpensive,
and eco-friendly way of synthesis. Iron oxide nanoparticles with different morphologies and sizes have been extensively studied
due to their broad applications. Iron nanoparticles (Fe NPs) have drawn interest in site remediation and also in the treatment of
organic or inorganic pollutants of water. The present review shows different synthesis methods of zero-valent and iron oxide
nanoparticles from different plant extracts including tea extracts (Oolong tea, tea powder, tea waste,andtea polyphenols), from
other plant extracts (Amaranthus dubius, Murraya koenigii, Eucalyptus, Syzygium aromaticum, curcuma, Ocimum sanctum,
Emblica officinalis, Tridax procumbens, Dodonaea viscosa, Spinacia oleracea, Lawsonia inermis (henna), Gardenia jasminoides,
Punica granatum, and Colocasia esculenta), from bio-microorganisms (Acinetobacter spp. bacterium, Aspergillus oryzae,
Sargassum muticum), and from magnetite sand. The different potential applications of iron nanoparticles in remediation, in dye
removal, and as an antibacterial agent point to the importance of iron nanoparticles in the environmental removal of contamination.
Keywords Antibacterial effect
.
Dye removal
.
Iron nanoparticles
.
Plant extracts
.
Remediation
1 Introduction
Nanotechnology is defined as the manipulation of matter via a
number of ingredients and/or material processes to produce
components along with specific attributes, which can be ap-
plied in a variety of applications [1]. A nanoparticle could be
defined as a tiny particle which includes a minimum of one
sizing below 100 nm in dimensions [2]. Unlike bulk compo-
nents, they had exclusive optical, thermal, and electrochemi-
cal properties [3], that is why many people uncover a number
of applications in the actual areas of environment, medicine,
energy, agriculture, chemistry, information, communication,
heavy industry, and consumer goods [4]. Chemical synthesis
strategies for nanoparticles (e.g., element lowering, sol serum
approach, and so on) include the use of harmful compounds,
creation of hazardous by-products, and also, contamination
through precursor compounds [2]. So, the benefit of acquiring
fresh, nontoxic, and also environment-friendly procedures is
intended for nanoparticle functionality.
Green chemistry synthesis methods for nanoparticles have
positive aspects over chemical methods, for example being
safe, eco-friendly, harmful compounds are not employed,
and also cheap [5]. Examples of green synthesis methods are
as follows: firstly, the active biological component such as
enzymes works as reducing and also as capping agents, and
this is the reason why these small nanoparticles could be gen-
erated in the course of large-scale production [6]. Secondly,
the plant extracts also reduce the metal ions in a short time,
and it is widely used because of the presence of reducing and
stabilizing agents in their extracts [7]. Finally, an incredibly
wide range of natural resources such as germs (bacteria,
thrush, fungi, algae, and also viruses) and crops could be uti-
lized intended for nanoparticle functionality [8].
They are nontoxic in nature, and iron nanoparticles readily
form oxides. Fe nanoparticles possess a high magnetic nature,
high surface area, and electrical and thermal conductivity.
They also have excellent dimensional stability. Due to the
properties of iron nanoparticles, they are known as magnetic
nanoparticles. Magnetic nanoparticles have been explored
widely in the last decades due to their large number of
* Heba Mohamed Fahmy
heba_moh_fahmi@yahoo.com
1
Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Cairo University,
Nahdet Misr Street, Giza 12613, Egypt
BioNanoScience (2018) 8:491–503
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12668-018-0516-5
@Phil_Robichaud
@deepthiw
@JoseServera