Facile Biosynthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles using Leaf Aqueous Extract of Callistemon viminalis and Study of Salt Effect on It

Inthis work, we presenta simple and eco-friendly biosynthesis of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles using Callistemon viminalis leaf extract as reducing and capping agent. The aqueous solution of FeCl₃ and FeCl₂.2H₂O, when exposed to aqueous leaf extract of Callistemon viminalis, was reduced and resulted in magnetite nanoparticles whose average size was ∼10 nm. The magnetite nanoparticles were characterised by UV-visible, X-ray diffraction (XRD), quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. On the basis of the study, it appears to be new promising biosynthetic nanocatalyst for the development of the industrial synthesis process for the production of nanopartices. The polyols components and the heterocyclic components were believed to be responsible for the formation and the stabilisation of magnetite nanoparticles, respectively.