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24 Biosynthesis of Nanoparticles Using Agriculture and Horticulture Waste

sunlight can be carried out in two differential modes known as static and dynamic.

Also photocatalysis is performed using reactors by providing visible light sources.

24.5.3

Removal of Antibiotic from Water

Biosynthesized nanoparticles can be used in effluent treatment plants effectively.

In this application, the antibiotic contaminant present in the water can be removed

using adsorption mechanisms using nanoparticles. The effluent water is mixed with

nanoparticles that is kept under agitation for a specified duration of time at room

temperature. Samples are withdrawn at a fixed interval of time to assess the remain-

ing antibiotic present in the effluent. These samples can be analyzed using various

analytical methods like liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS), high

performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Few reports have suggested the use

of iron oxide nanoparticles in the removal of antibiotics [15].

24.5.4

Effect on Enzyme Activity

To assess the effect of nanoparticles on enzyme activity, enzyme should be preincu-

bated with nanoparticles and further incubated with its suitable substrate. Substrate

concentration should be fixed; however, concentration of nanoparticles has to be

varied in order to assess the enzyme activity. The outcome of this respective assay

will be beneficial in food processing industries. Thus, these nanoparticles serve as

potential activators or inhibitors of the enzyme activity. The effect of these nanopar-

ticles can be estimated with respect to the control sample (without nanoparticles).

The kinetic parameters such as Maximum velocity (Vmax) and Michaelis constant

(Km) can be calculated using Michaelis Menten equation for the respective enzyme

activity.

24.5.5

Nanofertilizer

Biosynthesized nanoparticles have the relevant potential to be used as nano fertilizer

in agricultural sectors, wherein plants require micronutrients for their growth and

development for achieving quality as well good yield of crops. In order to investigate

the effect of nanoparticles on the plant growth, seeds of suitable plants should be

cultivated. Nanoparticles of different concentrations need to be mixed with soil dur-

ing sowing of seeds either in culture pots or in suitable plant trays. Control sample

(without nanoparticle) can be used as reference to determine the effect of nanopar-

ticle on plant growth. Plants harvested after a suitable duration have to be evaluated

for height, number of leaves, leaf area, root length, and number of flowers.

24.5.6

Radical Scavenging Activity

Most of the nanoparticles exhibit radical scavenging activity. The DPPH

(2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay is preferred to determine the antioxidant