Mechanisms of green synthesis of iron nanoparticles using Trifolium alexandrinum extract and degradation of methylene blue

Iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) were synthesized via sustainable route of green synthesis to investigate their activity as photocatalyst against environmental pollutants. Nanoparticles were synthesized from leaf extract of Trifolium alexandrinum as a source of stabilizing, capping and reducing agent. Structural and morphological features of these synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by using various techniques including UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, SEM and DLS analysis. FeNPs were successfully applied as photocatalyst to remove the methylene blue (MB). Mechanism of removal was investigated by fitting the data in pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order adsorption and reduction models along with intraparticle diffusion model. FeNPs were found highly active with more than 97% degradation of MB within 35 minutes. Stability of catalyst to be reused was checked out and significant results found up to 3 cycles. Nontoxic, low cost, green synthesized FeNPs were proven efficient as catalyst for the degradation of MB.