<i>Aegle marmelos</i>Leaf Extract and Plant Surfactants Mediated Green Synthesis of Au and Ag Nanoparticles by Optimizing Process Parameters Using Taguchi Method

Abstract

The Taguchi method was used to optimize the phytochemicals mediated green synthesis parameters of silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles. The ratio of respective metal ion precursor to Aegle marmelos leaf extract, plant based surfactants (Reetha, Acacia, and Shikakai), pH, temperature, and color of the light source were chosen as significant parameters affecting the size of the nanoparticles. The Ag (∼13 nm) and Au (∼23 nm) nanoparticles with narrow size distributions were produced after optimization of process parameters by the Taguchi method. Statistical analysis based on experimental results indicates that the pH and temperature have greater influence on the Ag nanoparticles size, whereas it is surfactant media and temperature for the Au nanoparticles. The square plate type nanoplates of Au with edge length of ∼630 nm and width ∼45 nm were also obtained by just changing the process parameters. This study shows the suitability of the Taguchi methodology in green synthesis and obtaining desired size nanoparticles for simple, one-pot, economical, and large scale production.