BIOSYNTHESIS OF IRON NANOMETAL USING ACALYPHA HISPIDA, EUPHORBIA PULCHERRIMA, GRAPTOPHYLLUM PICTUM, AND QUASSIA AMARA L. LEAVES EXTRACT AS REDUCTOR FOR FECL3.6H2O IRON PRECURSOR

• Main Author: Fitra Jaya, Arya
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/57603
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The application of iron nanometals has been widely studied, especially in remediation processes. In addition, iron nanometals also have a positive impact in the health sector and as catalysts. Synthesis of iron nanometals using physical and chemical methods requires high energy and costs while producing substances that are harmful to the environment. Another alternative method that is more environmentally friendly is to use biological agents as reducing agent in the process of synthesis iron nanometals that called biosynthesis. The advantages of this biosynthesis method, besides being cost-effective, can also produce stable iron nanometals through stabilizing agents or capping agents. The use of plants as a reducing agent was chosen because of its abundant availability in nature and the uncomplicated synthesis process. In this study, biosynthesis of iron nanometals was carried out using ekor kucing leaf extract (Acalypha hispida), kastuba leaf (Euphorbia pulcherrima), daun ungu leaf (Graptopphyllum pictum) and ki congcorang leaf (Quassia amara L.) by reviewing several parameters, such as biosynthesis time, temperature, precursor concentration, and extract volume. The series of experiments began with the preparation of the selected plant extract, then continued with the preparation of the FeCl3.6H2O precursor using deionized water. The iron nanometal biosynthesis process is carried out by mixing a solution of iron precursor with plant extracts. Preliminary experiments were conducted to select 30 plant extracts with the greatest potential to produce iron nanometals. The 4 selected plant extracts were further tested to determine the effect of the experimental parameters that had been set. The color change of the biosynthesis solution indicates the formation of iron nanometals. Characterization was carried out on the biosynthesis solution using Eh-pH meter and UV-Vis. The results of iron nanometals and plant leaves were analyzed using FTIR. Based on experiments that have been carried out on a laboratory scale, the optimum point for each plant was obtained as follows: ekor kucing leaf 1 minute, 25oC, 0.33 M precursor, and 5 mL extract; kastuba leaf 6 minutes, 25oC, 0.25 M precursor, and 1 mL extract; daun ungu leaf 6 minutes, 25oC, 0.29 M precursor, and 7 mL extract; ki congcorang leaf 1 minute, 25oC, 0.29 M precursor, and 3 mL extract. The results of FTIR characterization showed that the best plant extract in synthesizing of iron nanometals was daun ungu leaf.