Bio-reduction of gold (III) to gold (0) and nanoparticle formation by oat and wheat biomasses: The use of plants in nanobiotechnolgy

In this study, oat and wheat biomasses were investigated for the adsorption of gold(III) ions from aqueous solutions and the subsequent formation of gold nanoparticles. Batch experiments for pH, time, and temperature dependence were performed in order to provide a better understanding of the mechanism(s) involved in the binding and nanoparticle formation of gold. Also, studies were performed to extract the gold nanoparticles from the biomass using sodium citrate and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB).; In addition, High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) were used to corroborate the gold(III) reduction, formation, and extraction of the gold nanoparticles and to study the mechanism(s) involved in these processes. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...