Gold Nanoparticle Formation by Oat and Wheat Biomasses

In this study, the bio-reduction of Au(III) to Au(0) by wheat biomass and the subsequent production of gold nanoparticles of various shapes and sizes is presented. The dry biomass was ground and sieved to 100 mesh in order to assure a uniform particle size and having more area of biomass exposed to the gold. Wheat biomass was exposed to a 0.3mM potassium tetrachloroaurate solution at pH values of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 for 3.5 hours at room temperature. After that time, the biomass pellets were analyzed using a high resolution JOEL-4000 Fx microscope in order to characterize the gold nanoparticles. Results showed that wheat biomass produced nanostructures of the following morphologies: Fcc tetrahedral, Fcc hexagonal platelets, irregular shaped, rod shaped, decahedral multiple-twined, and icosahedral multiple-twined. However, the highest percent of the nanoparticles formed had a particle size ranging from 10-30 nm in diameter.