Recovery of silver nanoparticles and management of food wastes: Obstacles and opportunities

Abstract

• The natural fruits and vegetable wastes (FVW) are ample sources of bioactive compound. • Green synthesis of AgNPs from FVW reduces environmental pollution and confers on its added value. • AgNPs from FVW can be useful in recovery of bioactive compounds. • FVW derived nanoparticles can be used as anticancer, antibacterial anti-fungal and anti-viral agents. • Suitable worker friendly method of nanomaterial recovery from FVW needs to be explored. The growing scale of human enterprise and lack of family-owned livestock is leading to lesser recycling and higher production of food wastes. The safe technology, for removal of pollutants and recovery of profitable goods and chemicals, is required to mitigate the agri and food waste mediated global crisis. The reuse of waste resources reduces the cost of fabrication and the vulnerability to hazardous chemicals, and promotes circularity and green synthesis. The green synthesis of metal nanoparticles and their oxide from food waste can be a new eco-friendly, cost-effective, and appropriate alternative to traditional methods. The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles is quick and executed at ambient temperature. The application of nanotechnology for the effective recycling of food waste have enormous potential in India, where only ∼30% of domestic wastes is recycled. The present paper reviews the available literature on characteristics and impacts of kitchen wastes, viable options for recovering nanoparticles through green synthesis, and explores the potential applications of nanoparticles synthesized from kitchen wastes. There is significant scope and prospect for further research in this emerging field. With suitable examples of metal nanoparticles recovered from the kitchen wastes, this review critically explores various applications of nanoparticles recovered from the vegetable and fruit wastes in wastewater treatment, antimicrobial, antifungal, insecticidal, larvicidal, and other biomedical applications. Pointing to the contemporary constraints of an ecosystem and human health the paper concludes suitable strategies for utilizing vegetable and fruit wastes for the generation of nanoparticles, including recommendations for future developments.