Phytobiosynthesis of gold nano-particles and comparison of two plant species (Canola and Alfalfa)

245-247Different varieties of two plant species, Canola and Alfalfa were grown at exactly same laboratory conditions and bio-reduction of Au (III) to Au (0) was studied. Subsequently, production of gold nano-particles of various morphologies and sizes were characterized. Plant seeds were grown in a culture medium that contained gold ions from KAuCl4. Gold nano-particle formation was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy. Results showed that the plants pull up gold ions from KAuCl4 and form gold particles in nano sizes due to chemical behaviour of the gold. Significant differences in the nature of nano-particles were observed when particles synthesized by these two plant species were compared. The size range of gold nano-particles synthesized by Canola was 20-128 nm, while it was 8-48 nm by Alfalfa