Synthesis and Characterization of Caladium bicolor-Stabilized Iron Nanoparticle

Caladium bicolor samples were collected, thoroughly washed, shade dried, cut into small pieces, oven-dried and ground. Distilled water was added to the ground C. bicolor samples and heated. It was then filtered after heating, and the filtrate stored. To 0.05M solution of FeCl3 was added the extract and stirred. The solution was then filtered and the residue oven dried. This synthesized NP was characterized with Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Braunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The results from these analyses were characterised by attributes that indicated a successful synthesis of Caladium bicolor-incorporated Iron nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis was also carried out on the Caladium bicolor extract and synthesized NPs. Some of the results include O-H stretching (3291.50 cm-1) which is characteristic of alcohol functional group. Alkane is suspected due to C-H stretching at 2919.20 cm-1 and alkene due to C=C stretching at 1628.11 cm-1. Iron (III) chloride vibrations are suspected at 639.22 cm-1 (Fe-Cl stretching). DSC shows exothermic peaks at 323.6°C and 335.5°C and endothermic peaks at 105.7°C and 251.3°C. These results confirmed the presence of iron NPs. The use of plant extracts to synthesize nanoparticles (NP) has become increasingly desirable due to its low cost and non-toxic nature. Caladium bicolor fits this role because of its cheapness and not a food source for man or animals. Iron nanoparticles were synthesized using iron (III) chloride and Caladium bicolor extract.