Phytosynthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of Sacha inchi leaf-assisted gold nanoparticles

The development of ecofriendly experimental methods for the fabrication of nanoparticles is emerging technique in green chemistry and nanotechnology. In this investigation, green synthetic route was adapted to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using Sacha inchi leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The green synthesized AuNPs were successfully characterized by visual, UV–visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). UV–vis spectroscopy showed a single absorbance peak at 545 nm confirming the formation of AuNPs. TEM study revealed that AuNPs were spherical in shape and size ranging from 5–30 nm. SAED, XRD and FTIR confirm the lattice pattern, crystallinity and surface property of AuNPs. Application of AuNPs as nanocatalyst was investigated in catalytic reduction of organic dye, methyl orange (> 90%), where 0.113691 min −1 was the first-order kinetic constant with sodium borohydride. The as-synthesized AuNPs may be applied as nanocatalyst in the future for the treatment of organic pollutants in wastewater, efficiently. The results suggest that the adopted method is simple, inexpensive and ecofriendly for the synthesis of AuNPs and also promotes wide scope of Sacha inchi plant in the international markets. Graphical abstract