Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Banana <i>Raja</i> (<i>Musa paradisiaca var. raja</i>) Peel Extract: Effect of Different Concentrations of the AgNO<sub>3</sub> Solution

Abstract

This study focuses on the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Banana Raja (Musa Paradisiaca Var. Raja) peel extract. The aim is to determine the effect of concentration differences of silver nitrate (AgNO3) as the precursor on the production of silver nanoparticles. In this study, banana peel extract (BPE) was reacted with AgNO3 solution at several concentrations of silver nitrate solution i.e. 0.125; 0.1; 0.075 and 0.05 M at temperature of 50 °C. The ratio of banana peel extract and AgNO3 solution used was 5:500 (v/v). The stirring was done by using a magnetic stirrer. The reaction took place when the color of the mixture (extract and AgNO3) changed until the color of the mixture became constant. The results of the colloidal silver nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis Spectrometer, while the functional groups of the banana extract was analyzed using a Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) apparatus. Whereas, the morphology of the silver nanoparticles was studied using a Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The UV-Vis Spectrometer result show that the concentration of AgNO3 which gave the highest absorbance value was at 0.1 M. The SEM micrographs could not clearly show the difference in the morphology of silver nanoparticles samples at different concentrations of AgNO3 solution.