An eco-friendly and sustainable method for producing Fe3O4 nanoparticles using Jatropha podagrica leaf extract for efficient dye degradation and antibacterial uses

Abstract

A green and efficient method was used to synthesize Fe3O4 nanoparticles using Jatropha podagrica leaf extract (JP- Fe3O4 NPs) as a stabilizer. The nanoparticles were characterized using various techniques, including XRD, FT-IR, SEM, SEM-EDX, HR-TEM, and UV–visible spectroscopy. The SEM and HR-TEM images showed that the nanoparticles were spherical, hexagonal, cubic, and rod-shaped, with sizes ranging from 14 to 16 nm. The FT-IR spectrum showed a characteristic peak at 581 cm−1, corresponding to the Fe O bond. The photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles was tested by degrading Fluorescein sodium (FS) and Crystal violet (CV) dyes in sunlight. The nanoparticles could degrade 92–95 % of the dyes within 1–2 h. The nanoparticles also exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. When 150 μL of the nanoparticles were used in a well diffusion method, inhibition zones of 13, 15, 11, and 10 mm were observed against Bacillus coagulans, staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. This study demonstrates that the synthesized JP- Fe3O4 NPs effectively remove dyes from aqueous solutions and have potent antimicrobial properties.