Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Oil Palm Leaf Extract

Nanoparticles are known to have applications in various fields such as electronics, agriculture and medicine. These nanoparticles are usually produced using physical or
chemical methods that are costly and produce toxic residue. In recent years, interest in synthesizing nanoparticles using eco-friendly methods has peaked and various research has been done to produce these nanoparticles using leaves, fruits and roots of plants. Therefore, it is imperative to study the possibility of producing gold nanoparticles from oil palm leaf extract, which may result potent biological
applications. The nanoparticles are produced by the bioreduction of gold ions in chloroauric acid after mixing the acid solution with oil palm leaf extract. The
preliminary Fourier Transfrom Infrared spectroscopy analysis carried out on the oil palm leaf extract indicates that functional groups present in the oil palm leaf extract are O—H from phenols and carboxylic acid, C=C aromatics, alkane, alkenes and ethers. The colour change observed and Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy analysis done on the reacting mixture of chloroauric acid and palm oil leaf extract resulting in an absorbance peak at around 530 to 550 nm indicated that the synthesis is feasible. The FESEM and EDX analysis further confirmed the presence of gold nanoparticles and their resulting shapes.