Eco-Friendly Approach for The Biosynthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Some Fungi Isolated from The Egyptian Soil

Abstract

A series of experiments were conducted to obtain the optimum conditions for the biosynthesis of ZnO NPs using the preformed biomass of A. carneus: a. pH value: The maximal production of the NPs was recorded at pH 9. b. Temperature: The highest synthesis was revealed at 30oC. c. Precursor salt: Nitrate salt (ZnNO3.6H2O) was found superior to the sulfate salt ZnSO4 in this respect. d. Zinc nitrate concentration: Increasing the concentrations from 0.5 mM to 1 mM greatly enhanced the yield of the NPs. Any further increase depressed the biosynthetic process and at 5 mM no NPs were produced. e. Incubation period: A slow biosynthesis was observed in the first 12 h where it being initiated sluggishly but the biosynthesis process was strongly accelerated in the following hours reaching its maximal after 24 h of incubation. 6- The FTIR spectroscopy of ZnO NPs biosynthesized by A. carneus biomass was carried out to indicate the possible involvement of various functional groups or biomolecules in the formation and stabilization of ZnO NPs. The results supported the involvement of different biomolecules on the surface of the biosynthesized ZnO NPs. Such biomolecules were suggested to play a role in biosynthesis, stabilization and functions of these NPs.