Adeji, Anthony Junior

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES VIA PLANT EXRTACT OF AGAVE AMERICANA / ANTHONY JUNIOR ADEJI; SUPERVISOR: PROF. DR. HATICE ERKURT - ix, 59 sheets; 31 cm. Includes CD

Thesis (MSc) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Bioengineering Department

Includes bibliography (sheets 52-59)

ABSTRACT
The fabrication of nanomaterials can be done using a variety of plant resources thanks
to green technology, which also avoids the use of any processes that could be
considered destructive. This research concentrates on an effective, simple, and eco friendly creation of ZnO nanoparticles using zinc sulfate heptahydrate and the bio components of dry agave powder extract (Agave americana). The characterization of
the nanoparticles was done by using the analysis of Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-VIS)
spectrophotometer, Fourier Transform Infrared (F.T-I.R), X-Ray Diffraction (X.R.D),
and Scanning Electron Microscope (S.E.M). The size of the biosynthesized Zinc oxide
nanoparticle was evaluated using the zeta size analyzer, which reveals that the
biologically synthesized nanoparticle has an average size of 78nm. The presence of a
peak between 271 and 289nm, which was observed via the uv-vis absorption is
evidence that ZnONPs had been found. The S.E.M study shows a spherical form with
a size range of 50 to 98nm while the X.R.D patterns indicated that the wurtzite
structure is in the hexagonal phase. The existence of OH, C-H, C-O, and C-N
stretching was demonstrated by the F.T-IR analysis. The use of a quantitative analysis
of the aqueous solution of the leaf extract of agave americana enabled the detection
of the presence of phytochemical compounds, and bioactive active compounds such
as saponins, tannins, and flavonoids were present. According to the findings of the
antioxidant activity, the aqueous plant extract and ZnONPs showed a scavenging value
of 98% and 94% respectively, when the D.P.P.H assay was carried out. On the
antibacterial experimentation, the bactericidal effect of both gram-positive (Bacillus
subtilis) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria were evaluated using the bio synthesized ZnONPs. B. subtilis and E.coli showed a zone of inhibition at 28mm and
5mm respectively. This research, confirmed the presence of pharmacologically active
chemicals in the green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles which paves the door for their
practical implementation in the therapeutic, treatment of industrial effluents and
nanotechnology for drug delivery systems.
Keywords; Agave americana, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Characterization,
Phytochemicals, Zinc Sulfate Heptahydrate, ZnONPs


Agaves--Dissertations, Academic
Antibacterial agents--Dissertations, Academic
Antibacterial agents--Dissertations, Academic
Phytochemicals --Dissertations, Academic
Zinc sulfate--Dissertations, Academic