GREEN SYNTHESIS OF BIMETALLIC NANOPARTICLES USING DRACAENA TRIFASCIATA LEAF EXTRACT AND THEIR APPLICATION IN DYE DEGRADATION

Abstract

Creating nanoparticles through green, sustainable methods has become a major focus in materials science. This work explores the green synthesis of palladium-silver (Ag-Pd) bimetallic nanoparticles using leaf extracts from Dracaena trifasciata (commonly known as the snake plant). The natural extract serves a dual purpose in the reaction, acting as both the reducing and the stabilizing agent. We characterized the resulting nanoparticles using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Our analysis showed that the nanoparticles formed as stable spheres with an average diameter of roughly 70 nm. When tested for environmental remediation, these biogenic Ag-Pd nanoparticles successfully catalysed the breakdown of methylene blue dye, achieving complete degradation within an hour. Ultimately, these findings indicate that using D. trifasciata offers a practical, low-cost, and eco-friendly route to producing functional nanomaterials for wastewater treatment.