Green Synthesis of Silver/Silver Chloride Nanoparticles using Shallot Peel Extract as Reducing Agent

Abstract

Precious metal nanoparticles, especially silver, can be an alternative antibacterial agent that is more promising than antibiotics, which tends to induce resistance over time. Unfortunately, most Silver nanoparticle (AgNP) manufacturing methods involve hazardous substances, extreme conditions, high energy, and complicated separations. Reduction of AgNO3 solution with plant extracts can serve as a ‘green’ synthesis pathway, especially if using food processing waste or other biological materials. Reducing substances that are commonly found in plant extracts, such as flavonoids, are widely contained in shallots (Allium cepa L. var. aggregatum) which are commonly used as food ingredients in Indonesia, but the processing waste is still not widely used. This paper describes the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) with the AgNO3 solution reduction method, using onion peel waste extract as a reducing agent. Experiments were carried out with variations in the ratio of AgNO3 solution to onion peel extract. The resulting AgNPs were characterized by TEM and UV-vis.