Green Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles with Borojó (Borojoa patinoi) Extracts and Their Application in As Removal in Water Matrix

The predominant aim of the current research was to generate a proposal for the removal of arsenic, a highly toxic pollutant, encountered within the Papallacta Lagoon in Ecuador. The average concentrations of As yielded ranges between 18 to 652 μg/L, through the use of metallic nanoparticles. Sampling was performed in the lagoon with their respective geographic locations and "in situ" parameters. Nanoparticles of Mn₃O₄ NPs, Fe₃O₄ NPs, and CuO NPs were synthesized at a 0.5 M concentration, using the precipitation method, and borojó (<i>Borojoa patinoi</i>) extract was added as an anti-caking agent as well as antioxidant. The nanoparticles were characterized by visible spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. After arsenic removal treatment using nanoparticles, a randomized experimental design of different concentrations (5 mg/L, 10 mg/L, 25 mg/L, 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L, and 150 mg/L) was applied at laboratory level. The average diameter of Fe₃O₄NPs ranged from 9 nm to 36 nm, Mn₃O₄ NPs were 15-20 nm, and CuO NPs ranged from 25 nm to 30 nm. Arsenic removal percentages using Fe₃O₄ NPs with a concentration of 150 mg/L was 87%; with Mn₃O₄ NPs, the removal was 70% and CuO NPs of about 63.5%. Finally, these nanoparticles could be used in a water treatment plant for the Papallacta Lagoon.